Adrienne Young is an author I hear amazing things about and I’ve enjoyed a few of the books I’ve read by her. Fallen City was one that caught my eye before it released and I finally had time to curl up with this book. So today I can finally tell you all about this book and what I thought.

A big thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC to read. This doesn’t affect my opinion in any way.

In the great walled city of Isara, political turmoil ignites a rebellion one hundred years in the making. But when a legionnaire falls in love with a Magistrate’s daughter, their love will threaten the fate of the city and the will of the gods.

Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city’s Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.

Maris Casperia was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel’s inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.

As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.

Review

The way Fallen City is told is one of my favorite ways to get a fantasy story: dual POV and past and present chapters. I’m a big fan of slowly getting glimpses of the world, past, and just everything that’s going on in this story. Politics in fantasy stories are always something I love and it played such a bit role in this book. I also loved that we had two narrators: Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick & Leela Bassuk bring these two and the whole story to life.

Fallen City was definitely an interesting one that built its tension by slowly giving us all of the little pieces. I also appreciated not feeling like Maris and Luca didn’t have instalove, but that is also wasn’t the biggest plot point. I do feel like this is a story I can’t give much details for. It feels like a story you just need to experience for yourself. I will say if you love: forbidden romance, politics, dual timelines, meddling gods, and rebellion I believe you could love this story. I’m excited to see where the second book in this duology will take us and how it will all wrap up.

Fallen City is definitely a fall book, so if you’re ready for autumnal reads, I recommend this one. The sequel, Chose Son, releases in December, so I’ll have to make sure to read it when it releases. That way I’m still good with details. Have you read any amazing fantasy books lately? I’m always here for recommendations. So let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!