Summary: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? (from GoodReads)
I was really excited to read Falling Kingdoms because I haven't read a good high fantasy novel in awhile and the back cover compared this to A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. Those are some big shoes to fill! Luckily for the synopsis writer, Falling Kingdoms was a great read and I was very impressed.
Like A Song of Ice and Fire, each chapter switches point-of-view between many different characters, all living in different regions and at different socioeconomic statuses. Sometimes the characters were even enemies, making the numerous narration very interesting. You get to decide which side you agree with (unlike with a single narrator) and see all points of the issues.
The big conflict in Falling Kingdoms is between three nations:
Limeros, Auranos, and Paelsia. Limeros is cold, with a rigid and austere
culture, while Auranos is warm and prosperous. Paelsia’s economy is failing so
they align with Limeros in order to take back wealth from Auranos. In the
middle of this there is forbidden love, magic, betrayal, unwanted marriages,
death and a lot of other interesting things.
I was surprised how quickly I was drawn into the
world of Falling Kingdoms. I was able to understand everything because the
author provided just the right amount of detail. Luckily for me, there was also
plenty of action so the reader isn’t overwhelmed with description. The book is
pretty long, but I couldn’t put it down so it didn’t even matter! Falling
Kingdoms left off on a pretty big cliffhanger so I am certainly looking forward
to the next installment. If you are a fan of fantasy, I whole-heartedly
recommend this book – you will not be disappointed!!!
1 comment:
Thanks for the great review. This is on my "have to get it" list. So glad that you enjoyed it.
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