Red City

The Godfather meets The Magicians in the sweeping adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu. Perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab, Red City is a dark and deadly contemporary fantasy of magical warfare, star-crossed ambition, and the pursuit of perfection at any cost, set in a glittering alternate Los Angeles.

Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation. An exclusive power wielded by crime syndicates that market it to the world's elites in the form of sand, a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of themselves: more beautiful, more charismatic, simply more.

Among the gleaming skyscrapers and rolling foothills of Angel City, alchemy is controlled by two rival syndicates. For years, Grand Central and Lumines have been balanced on a razor's edge between polite negotiation and outright violence. But when two childhood friends step into that delicate equation, the city-and the paths of their lives-will be irrevocably transformed.

The daughter of a poor single mother, Sam would do anything to claw her way into the ranks of Grand Central in search of a better life. Plucked away from his family as a boy to become a Lumines apprentice, Ari is one of the syndicates' brightest rising stars. Once, they might have loved each other. But as the two alchemists face off across opposite sides of an ever-escalating conflict, ambition becomes power, loyalty becomes lies, and no transformation may be perfect enough for them both to survive the coming war.

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Red City

The Godfather meets The Magicians in the sweeping adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu. Perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab, Red City is a dark and deadly contemporary fantasy of magical warfare, star-crossed ambition, and the pursuit of perfection at any cost, set in a glittering alternate Los Angeles.

Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation. An exclusive power wielded by crime syndicates that market it to the world's elites in the form of sand, a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of themselves: more beautiful, more charismatic, simply more.

Among the gleaming skyscrapers and rolling foothills of Angel City, alchemy is controlled by two rival syndicates. For years, Grand Central and Lumines have been balanced on a razor's edge between polite negotiation and outright violence. But when two childhood friends step into that delicate equation, the city-and the paths of their lives-will be irrevocably transformed.

The daughter of a poor single mother, Sam would do anything to claw her way into the ranks of Grand Central in search of a better life. Plucked away from his family as a boy to become a Lumines apprentice, Ari is one of the syndicates' brightest rising stars. Once, they might have loved each other. But as the two alchemists face off across opposite sides of an ever-escalating conflict, ambition becomes power, loyalty becomes lies, and no transformation may be perfect enough for them both to survive the coming war.

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Red City

Red City

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Red City

Red City

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Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Rival alchemists climb their respective ranks in a world where loyalty is king — even if they might have felt strongly for each other in another life. Riveting and ruthless, Red City is perfect for fans of Olivie Blake and Lev Grossman.

The Godfather meets The Magicians in the sweeping adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu. Perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab, Red City is a dark and deadly contemporary fantasy of magical warfare, star-crossed ambition, and the pursuit of perfection at any cost, set in a glittering alternate Los Angeles.

Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation. An exclusive power wielded by crime syndicates that market it to the world's elites in the form of sand, a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of themselves: more beautiful, more charismatic, simply more.

Among the gleaming skyscrapers and rolling foothills of Angel City, alchemy is controlled by two rival syndicates. For years, Grand Central and Lumines have been balanced on a razor's edge between polite negotiation and outright violence. But when two childhood friends step into that delicate equation, the city-and the paths of their lives-will be irrevocably transformed.

The daughter of a poor single mother, Sam would do anything to claw her way into the ranks of Grand Central in search of a better life. Plucked away from his family as a boy to become a Lumines apprentice, Ari is one of the syndicates' brightest rising stars. Once, they might have loved each other. But as the two alchemists face off across opposite sides of an ever-escalating conflict, ambition becomes power, loyalty becomes lies, and no transformation may be perfect enough for them both to survive the coming war.


Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Like power itself, Red City is equal parts seduction and carnage--sexy, brutal, and laced with doom. Lu stages her tale of star-crossed love against a glittering world of ambition and greed, and the result is as devastating as it is spellbinding. I loved it."—Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

"Powerfully written, Marie Lu’s spellbinding novel of rival magicians and impossible choices will break your heart."—Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author of Book of Night

"Red City is a thrilling descent into a seedy underworld of alchemists and arcane-wielding criminal syndicates with ties to the upper echelons of power. Marie Lu has crafted not only a mesmerizing world, but memorable and convincing characters caught up in the machinations of competing crime bosses and assassins vying for control in Angel City. The only thing I wanted when I reached the end of this engrossing book—was more!"—P. Djèlí Clark, author of A Master of Djinn

Red City introduces a stunning new world with complex, morally grey characters who will steal your heart! I couldn't put it down!”—Katee Robert, New York Times bestselling author of Neon Gods

"Both heartbreaking and action-packed: an immense achievement."—Kirkus (starred review)

"Lu builds a rich alternate present that pulls tropes from both magic school and crime drama literary traditions to tell an addictive double "chosen one" story... It's truly enthralling."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"[F]antastic storytelling. Fans of fantasy and romantasy will thoroughly enjoy this book.”—Booklist (starred review)

Praise for Marie Lu:


"Marie Lu always delivers."—#1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo

"Every book she writes is a knockout. Marie Lu is magic."—New York Times bestselling author Tahereh Mafi

"There is no question of Lu's extraordinary literary talent."—Reactor

"What can't Lu do?"—Booklist

"The kind of all-consuming fantasy novel that pulls you head-first into a brand new world that begins to feel so familiar you can't wait to get your hands on the next one."—New York magazine on Warcross

"Legend doesn't merely survive the hype, it deserves it."—The New York Times

Product Details

BN ID: 2940194529506
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication date: 10/14/2025
Series: The New Alchemists , #1
Edition description: Unabridged
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