Review: Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1) by Morgan Rhodes

Title: Falling Kingdoms

Series: Falling Kingdoms #1
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: December 11, 2012
Pages: 412
Genres: Young adult, Fantasy
Source: Ebook

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In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.

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.

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.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

MY REVIEW

This review MAY contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

This book was awesome. Addictive. Satisfying. Literally almost perfect. I have been wanting to read this series forever, and I am finally getting around to it. Since the series is almost over I felt it was time to get cracking. 

My first impression of the book was that it is basically Game of Thrones for a young adult audience. And that's not a bad thing. It really worked quite well. There are quite a bit of adult-ish things going on, but not in exuberant detail. It's more nuanced or implied. 

I really loved the writing style. The writing pulls you in and keeps you interested. And it flows so beautifully. The pace is perfect. This is my first Morgan Rhodes book and so far I am impressed. The words and dialogues are so smooth that I just race through them. The writing isn't confusing or disjointed in any way. It's bliss!

There are many characters in this series and I really loved getting a glimpse into their lives. The chapters of the book alternate by which kingdom the characters are in when the chapter takes place. The character growth is written fantastically. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions getting to know these characters. I liked how the distinction between good and evil was blurred. Each character acts upon what happens to them and what decisions they make. 

The world building is excellent! There are three kingdoms and the way that they are portrayed was so vivid and atmospheric. The differences between the three kingdoms were vast and well written. I was never confused about which kingdom was which. I also really liked how the mythology of this world flows throughout the story. Every so often we get a little more info about the religions of this world. It built upon itself gradually, which was perfect. The Rhodes gave you just enough to satisfy but left out enough to make you curious and yearning to know more. 

The plot was woven so creatively. I was invested in the story from the very first page. I was itching to find out what happened next throughout the book. There is so much intrigue, so many themes are covered, and it always kept me wanting more. 

The only thing that fell a little flat was the romance. It is very lax in that department, and that is what prompted me to rate it the way that I did. With a little more romance this would have been simply perfect.

Overall, I was more than pleased with this book. It is a compelling read that you won't want to put down for a minute. I absolutely recommend this book, and I will be continuing the series. 

This series contains some of my all-time favorite book covers. What are some of your favorite book covers?