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The gripping New York Times bestseller that is Game of Thrones for teens
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?
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes has solidified the reason why I love reading so much. To be swept away into a tale of high fantasy where magic exists, the world is diverse, and the characters are unforgettable.
From the moment I read the synopsis and saw the cover, I knew that Falling Kingdoms was a story that would treasured and memorable. When I first cracked open the book, what did I find? A glossary…for the characters! At first glance, I thought that “omg, what have I gotten myself into?” My memory is not as good as it used to be, and seeing this list of characters kinda threw me off and had me a bit worried. But don’t fret friends! As the chapters in the story are broken down per kingdom; Auranos, Paelsia, and Limeros; you come to know rather quickly which characters come from which kingdom.
The story follows the story of specific characters in each kingdom, which melt together to provide a seamless story hope, love, triumph, hate, and magic. In Aurano, Princess Cleo Bellos is forced into a deadly situation thanks to the arrogance and bullheaded ness of her friend/intended, Aron. Because of Aron’s lack of brains, he unknowingly starts a revolution by the people of Paelsia and an uprising from the people of Limeros. Silly boy and his freakin’ love for wine. GAH! Not only does Princess Cleo have to deal with this new turn of events, but she also tasks herself with a quest to find some magical grape seeds, which can only be received from a mythical fallen Watcher (one who is full of magic and not from this world), in order to save her sister’s life who, it seems, is dying from a broken heart. She must travel into the kingdom of the very people who seek revenge for one of their own, and who loathe Aurano for all it has. It is during this quest that Princes Cleo finds more than she has bargained for.
In Paelsia, Jonas Agallon, the youngest son of a meek win seller, has only one thing on his mind. Vengeance. To avenge the death of his older brother, which was brought about by the hands of Aurano’s royalty. But after much thought, Jonas, along with the aide of the Chief, have started a revolution to destroy the king of Aurano, King Corvin, and his precious daughter, Princess Cleo for what happened to Jonas’ brother, and for the suffering that the people of Paelsia has gone through in the past years. And though all he sees in front of him is hate and revenge, situations that occur opens Jonas’ eyes to the truth, and what he needs to do in order to really set his fellow people free.
In Limeros, Prince Magnus Damora is plagued by a forbidden love, and his sister, Princess Lucia is coming to terms with some unusual things that are happening to her. With dark secrets being brought to light, and a father, King Gaius, who rules by instilling fear and spilling blood, Prince Magnus is slowing being corrupted by his father’s ways. Without the love of the one he holds dearest, his heart turns to ice and he follows in the footsteps of his maniacal father. Princess Lucia learns a few new truths about her and her life, and is unaware yet of how powerful a force she is, and what her role is in her prophesized existence.
As the lives of these characters intertwine in Fallen Kingdoms, this remarkable story comes to life and I needed more. I completely devoured this story and was left hungering for the next book. The different plot twists and turns had my head reeling in delight and couldn’t wait to see what else could possibly happen. The characters all had their own personalities, good or bad, that readers will thoroughly enjoy. I found myself literally rooting for the good guy, booing the bad guy, and becoming very emotional over the significance and importance of family.
What stood out in my mind? The bad guys…and especially King Gaius. His conniving, lying, deceitful ways had him stand out so much in my mind. To slowly find out what he has done, or plans to do sent shivers up and down my spine, and it was HE who provided me with so many gasp worthy moments while reading Falling Kingdoms. Definitely a force to be reckoned with. I cannot WAIT to see what is going to happen with him in the next book. To even see what sort of evil he has planned up his sleeve.
And don’t even get me started on the epic battle scene, you guys! It was like 300, Gladiator, Braveheart, Beowolf all rolled into one! It was THE most epic battle scene I have read and it will stand out in my mind. The buildup and anticipation that led up to the beginning of the battle draws you in, and with one final battle cry, bodies collide and insanity ensues. The descriptions of the battle itself, the sounds, the visuals, the deaths, the carnage… all of it combined left this lasting impression in me. I could literally see this battle jump off the pages, and hear the clanging of the swords and shields, and smell the blood and sweat. Amazing! If there was one part in Falling Kingdoms that I would read again, it would be this battle scene…hands down!
An amazing read that fans of Kristen Cashore’s, Graceling Realm series, will devour. If you are a lover of high fantasy, I would recommend you run out and grab a copy of Fallen Kingdoms and immerse yourself into this extraordinary world created by Morgan Rhodes.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 11, 2012
A fantastic high fantasy with a variety of compelling and distinct narrators. A cleaner, younger alternative to Game of Thrones that will nevertheless entice readers of both YA and adult fantasy. I adored this book and cannot wait for the sequel! Fantastic!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.FireStarBooks
Posted December 20, 2012
Plot related stuff
The story started out with a bang! First chapter it initiated the spark! And within 50 pages of the book the "OMG! OMG! OH! OH! OH!" moments came in. Yup. :)
The unfair kingdoms/magic/fighting/unrest is not a new idea but it is an idea what never gets old. This familiarity creates relatability. The magic reminded me of all those tales about the elements (Avatar anyone?), fate, and prophecies. The unfairness reminded me of the Ishbalans (or Ishvalans) from Full Metal Alchemists. The anger that brewed in my stomach was strong and hot. This is why I love reading, it can provide not only new worlds for me to explore but also familiarity and emotions. This familiarity is comforting. With that said, familiarity, or should I say repetitions can be bad. It is only tolerable in certain genres, and fantasy is one of them. Haha, I guess one of the reasons why I like fantasy and why I don't get annoyed by it. :p
The world building is good, not the best but good enough. I can imagine a lot of the things by myself. Morgan gave the readers rooms to explore with their own imagination. The prologue was very different - in an attractive way. I did get confused when I was a few paragraphs in. I wasn't sure what was going on until later on. But it was intriguing.
Characters
Love the characters! Cleo was perfect in every single way. She didn't stand out to be any particular type: not completely whiny, not completely rebellious, not completely strong. She can't be pinned down as one type. She has a multitude of colors and rays that developed in this character that you simply can't hate. She is not perfect, nor fake. She is marvelous.
Theon, oh wow. I love you, pure and simple. I love you. *dives into daydream* :) He is sweet, strong, protective...just *rolls around the floor from embarrassment and excitement* so perfect!
I particularly like to hate Aron. He is the type of character that lacks responsibilities, chase freedom and fun. He can be a hassle and a pain. He is the type of jerk that you want to throw frying pans at and stab with a million pencils. Yup...I swear, I am not a psychopath. That's why I like to hate him. He is full of character.
Nic was just a friend that I am looking for. He is seriously a friend you can count on and make you happy. The relationship between Nic and Cleo is...just AWESOME! There is no I-loved-you-since-forever-but-I-secretly-hid-it kind of thing. They are just amazing friends! (Kind of jelly right here :3).
Magnus has, well, I won't say depth, but there is something about him that makes me intrigued. The romance for him is sweet, tender, and soft. Like a delicate flower petal, it gently brushes the readers' hearts, well at least for me it did.
But other characters such as Jonas brought unspeakable emotions to me. My heart wanted to burst in sorrow. Morgan seemed to transform simple words into threads of magic that pulled at my emotions. Oh Paelsia, how I cry for you. Alexius had me intrigued and my heart beating from the moment I was introduced to him.
There are way too many characters to discuss separately (it might just bore you to death), but each had their uniqueness, their magic, their soul.
This book really reminded me why I love YA/MG fantasy. *sigh* :) I would recommend this to YA high fantasy lovers. If you enjoy the Storm Glass, Graceling, a clean version of Game of Throne etc., you will love this. :)
But I guess the reason why this book is not a 5/5 is that it didn't have that something that made it FLAILS-worthy. It didn't make me go crazy, running around the house screaming or shoving the book in my family's faces. It didn't have that spark of something that made me give this a perfect score. It wasn't "perfect" but it didn't deserve a 4.5, so therefore 4.75.
Ashley's Bits and Pieces
Love how there were a list of characters and their role at the front of the book. I find a lot of the time with high or epic fantasy that I lose track of people. This book had a lot of characters and this simple addition made it a lot easier on me. I just want to give my thanks to it! :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 21, 2013
This book was incredible and everything I want from a story, romance, danger, politics, plot twists, fantasy, and so much more. It kept me on edge and I couldn't stop reading it, so i pretty much finished it in one night. I am so excited for the next one!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 18, 2013
Really keeps u on the edge of your seat great book
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.EverAfterEsther
Posted March 19, 2013
Fantasy YA is just my thing - always has been and always will be! Needless to say that when I first heard about Falling Kingdoms I knew this was one I would NEED to read it because I was fairly confident that this book was pretty much written for me.
I was right. Told from four POVs, with PLENTY of action, fight scenes, and bravery with just enough romance and intrigue. And for what it's worth, I think the Game of Thrones comparison is a fairly good one.
Reasons to Read:
1. A rich, vibrant world:
The best part about Falling Kingdoms is the setting, hands down. It's a requirement of mine that the fantasy books I read and love have devastatingly beautiful worlds created - this one was no exception. Each of the three countries stood out on their own, with their own beliefs, culture, and rules. And the interactions between them are vital to the story's progression. Seriously, I was swooning over the culture clash and political relations. (Can you tell I'm a huge nerd?)
2. Interlacing story lines:
I'm typically hesitant when it comes to multiple storylines, but the characters here worked really well together and everything just blended so perfectly. It's a fantastic way to see the story from different perspectives, to really flesh out the problems and ideas without much bias. This means that the story is intricate and exciting, with something for every reader to appreciate!
3. A raw, gutsy sort of book:
Falling Kingdoms definitely doesn't shy away from the uglier parts of life. Everything is so messed up and crazy, and it doesn't all work out perfectly. But it features strong characters who don't shy away from what they're afraid of or their losses. They stick it out and they're STRONGER because of that. I love reading about brave characters, ones who are able to find ways to survive and move on. Because that's something we all have to go through at some point. Fair warning: Falling Kingdoms is remarkable, in a devastating sort of way.
The one thing I didn't love about the book stemmed from it's multiple story lines and 4 main characters. I thought it worked really well, for the most part, but there were definitely a few instances where it seemed like they could have benefited from a bit more personal development and time. A few things, including relationships with others, felt too rushed for my taste and I had a hard time being as impacted as I should by some of the events later on as a result of this.
But this is definitely a series to watch out for and I'm really looking forward to Rebel Spring!
ARC received from Penguin Canada for my honest review; no other compensation was received.
Anonymous
Posted March 11, 2013
This book was truly amazing! Action packed, suspensful, and heart breaking, Falling Kingdoms will leave you on the edge of your seat and begging for more!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Magic, politics, and a rebellious princess. How could I NOT pick this up?
The story was told in multiple POVs from people all over the kingdom. It was incredible being able to look at the downfall of the
kingdoms from all of these different characters. I always felt conflicted when something terrible happens because I could understand
it from both perspectives.
There was something that bothered me through out the whole story that I couldn’t put my finger on. It was until Stacy from Girls in the
Stacks pointed out on my goodreads that the speech patterns were very modern for an archaic world. One of my favorite things about
books set in different periods are the unique speech patterns and that made it difficult to fully enter the world inside Falling Kingdoms
because of the modern speech.
There were so many things happening at once. Falling Kingdoms was an intense book full of plot twists, chaotic battles, and betrayals.
I was still able to enjoy this book, but I ended up not loving it as much as I thought I would. I'm still looking forward to the rest of the series
though!
*3.5*
KaribbeanIsland1
Posted January 15, 2013
**4 Stars**
MY OVERVIEW: Where’s the next page????? Where’s the next page!!!!!!!! Aaaaa. : ) Talk about a cliff hanger. Wow, the author has no problem killing off characters quickly. I think sometimes it was good, and other times it was bad. Just as you got to like someone… oh wait, they’re dead!
PROS: I really like how you can see Cleo change through the book. All the experiences she has really make her a better and stronger person. I also enjoyed how the magic was broken into the 4 elements, and how witches didn’t have all of them… only sorcerers’/sorceress’ did.
CONS: All the jumping back and forth between kingdoms and characters was confusing for the first half of the book. It was a lot of backstory that didn’t flow together until about halfway through. Then you could see where everything came together and fit while still being different. I also didn’t like the fact that the Kindred weren’t fully explained until towards the end of the book. They are mentioned a lot and I had no idea what they really were and what they did.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I can’t wait to read the next book. I am most excited to see what happens to Cleo and Lucia. I am hoping we learn who Lucia’s birth parents are in the next book.
MyFriendsAreFiction
Posted January 12, 2013
I love the world that Rhodes has created. She shares just enough details of the history of the land and the people to grab my interest but not so much I feel bogged down by it. I didn’t find myself skimming over descriptions or back-story. I love that she pulls four stories and intertwines them with each other and the land’s history. I’ve read reviews that say this is Game of Thrones by George RR Martin for an YA audience. I’ve read Martin’s books and I love them. I think that description is accurate in that this is high fantasy with a sweeping story that bridges over many people and places. Its not nearly as large as Martin’s world or as complicated but Rhodes is successful in creating a rich history and a lot of character depth.
You can read my full review on my blog, My Friends Are Fiction
sarahbarah120
Posted January 12, 2013
So good. The plot and action was thrilling and always kept me guessing. The characters were very well developed and I even found myself feeling bad for Magnus. I can't wait for the next one and hopefully love will will at least one battle!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sometimes a book comes along and just captures your attention. I got this book recently and I loved it! The whole plot was amazing and I loved how it was told in 4 well.. 5 different points of views. It gives a special in site on each character that you normally don’t get in other books. I can’t wait till the sequel to this book comes!!
Synopsis: 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.
Characters:
Cleo: I think she might be my favorite person in this whole book. She’s a the youngest princess of Auranos. She’s 16 and has a lot of fire in her, she is definelty not a damsel in distress type princess. She goes on this journey to find magical grape seeds from an exiled watcher to help her older sister(Emilia), since she’s terminally ill. In the beginning of the book she did not believe in magic at all, that was all her older sister, but when her older sister get sick she does everything from disobeying her father the king and going to another land to help her.
Jonas: He’s the rebel among these four. He is fueled by an injustice that happened to his family. He finds himself being one of the leaders in a rebellion to better his country.
Lucia: She was adopted into a Royal family and finds out about her past. I think she’s very easily manipulated especially by her adoptive father The King of Blood. Not such a friendly person her dad. But anyways. I think she needs to form her own opinion and I cant wait to see her character grow in the upcoming sequel.
Magnus: Other times I feel sorry for this prince and at times I want to kick him in the face. He has some personality issues. I believe he’s kind hearted on the inside but when you are the son of The King of Blood you kind of automatically get the title of The Prince of Blood, and that’s a lot to live up to. I can’t to see this character develop over time as well.
Overall: I really enjoyed this book and i’m glad that it’s now sitting in my bookcase. I loved getting books like this. I’m very into high fantasy and this book sure meets my expectations. If you love Magic, Princesses, Princes, and adventure you will love this book.
It get a 5/5 for sure!
This book was completely and utterly engrossing. I stopped reading halfway through, because I was disgusted with parts of the book. The thing was I could not stop thinking about how it would end. This is the type of book that needs a sequel. Character wise, they are all so unique and I either love or hate them.
I would feel sympathetic for the character Magnus over his obsessive love for Lucia, except for the fact I did not like him in the slightest. To say he is a beastly person, is an understatement: a trait passed from his father King Gaius. There are no real redeemable qualities to Magnus.
Jonas is a very complex character. At first I felt horrible for him, until he became so consumed with revenge. Jonas has a complexity in the fact he is very astute and pieces things together about people's true nature before everyone else. Jonas started to grow on me in the last third of the book. If there is a sequel, which I hope there is, I feel Jonas is a valuable part.
The people I feel the most sympathy for are Lucia and Cleo. Despite what happened to Jonas's brother, Cleo is the one who has suffered the most throughout the book. Every single ounce of happiness given to her, was taken away. Yet she is a fighter and keeps getting by, no matter how tough and endearing the situation is.
Lucia is the character that you know the least personally, yet she plays the largest role in this novel. Hidden in Lucia is a power she never knew of. I feel sympathy most definitely for Lucia because her whole world shatters around her by all these secrets, yet she still is able to function and hold her allegiances.
Although there are so many different characters, each having their own distinct role, to the point where there is a character list in the front: it is not overwhelming and it is simple to remember who everyone early into the novel.
This book was incredible. I am so glad I did not end up putting it down. It is a must read. I recommend it to all of you!!
Leorise5
Posted January 4, 2013
Honestly best book I've read in a while. It's awesome ! A definite must read !!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 1, 2013
The age range should be 8-12 years old. Writing is simple, characters are undeveloped. Overall, the book is just a hodgepodge of fantasy cliches that is only underscored by a bunch of weak characters.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Madelana
Posted January 1, 2013
The cover drew me in and the story had me entranced. PERFECT - I absolutely loved this book and can not wait for the next in the series. This mystical fantasy had everything I love in a book. It was extremely heartbreaking throughout with much death and it makes you wonder why so many had to die; however, it also kept you on your toes because it is evident that the author was not afraid to kill off some major characters. You never really knew what was coming next. I can't believe we have to wait until the fall for Rebel Spring but I am so looking forward to it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 31, 2012
It was so addicting and i could not put my nook down. this story made me angry and soo mad. The characters were very interesting but i hated a lot of them for making cleo suffer. I couldnt stop crying. I need a sequel.
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Posted December 28, 2012
Everything was amazing in this book. It stinks how there is no other book like it. Once you find a good book it is hard to find a book similar. Anyone have any suggestions?
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Posted December 25, 2012
Loved this book! It had action, romance, suspense, and it even had me crying at one point. I can't want for the next book!
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Posted December 19, 2012
I really need book two. The ending was killer!
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Overview
The gripping New York Times bestseller that is Game of Thrones for teens
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 ...