Book Review: Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Title: Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1)
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Published: January 1st 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Add to Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Chapters | Audible | Book Depository | Barnes&Noble
Synopsis: In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. Centuries long hard-won peace between the three kingdoms; Limeros, Paelsia and Auronos is disturbed. The contrasting lives of four young individuals -Cleo, Jonas, Magnus and Lucia -gives us three different stories which intertwine to form one.
Falling Kingdoms is the first book in a six-part series.




My Rating on Goodreads: 5/5 for amazing plot, complex characters and nail-biting moments.

Falling Kingdoms doesn't have the greatest reviews on goodreads but I followed my gut feeling and picked it up despite my hesitance. I'm so glad I did because I loved it!

HOLYYYYY MACARONS. I adored this book from start to end. I'm trying to keep my thoughts organized so this review doesn't just become a fangirl fest. Basically, there's a lot of intrigue and politics. The story doesn't shy away from the intense subjects because we are put in the midst of action and bloodshed right away. The world was incredibly set up and the fantasy elements were all clearly understandable.

The entire novel has incredible pacing because there wasn't a moment I felt bored or overwhelmed. Since the story follows the conflict between three kingdoms, its a blessing to have four characters from across all the kingdoms. It really gave the reader the opportunity to see the perspective in each kingdom and through each character. The story is narrated in third person transitioning between different characters which I felt flowed very smoothly. This brings me to my next point that the strength of Falling Kingdoms lies in its characters.

Cleo Bellos -The Princess
Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.
Jonas Agallon -The Rebel
Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.
Lucia Damora -The Sorceress
Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Magnus Damora -The Heir
Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword

Falling Kingdoms explores every side of the conflict and so no character can be classified entirely as good or evil. I found the characters to be extremely human and complex which is what brings about the A Song of Ice & Fire comparisons (a compliment in my opinion). I completely devoured these characters and my views on them completely shifted as the story paced along.

Recommended to:

• High Fantasy Fans
• Fans of Throne of Glass
• Readers that love action, plot and complex characters
• Readers that are trying to venture into fantasy

--------------------------------------------

About the Series: 

Morgan Rhodes also writes under the name of Michelle Rowen where she's written the Immortality Bites series and even collaborated with Richelle Mead on Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide. 

Falling Kingdoms is set to be a six-part series accompanied by a spin-off series releasing in 2015, Spirit and Thieves. 

--------------------------------------------