Mini Review: Falling Kingdoms | Morgan Rhodes

FALLING KINGDOMS | Morgan Rhodes

Book Details

Series: Falling Kingdoms, #1

Paperback: 448 pgs

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: March 11, 2014

SYNOPSIS

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.…more

I’m so glad that I finally got to read this one! The author chooses to focus on four characters, and of those four, Magnus is definitely the most compelling. His forbidden desires, his need to be acknowledged by his father, and his hidden compassion for others create a dynamic character. Unfortunately, I can’t say much of the other characters.

While I can sympathize with Cleo, I wasn’t attached. And her sudden love connection with one character leaned too hard into the insta-love trope. The other two characters, Jonas and Lucia, weren’t fully fleshed out either. Jonas’s singular purpose didn’t add much to his identity and Lucia was rarely given any chapters to lend to her narrative.

The magic system is simple but vague. And sadly, Lucia’s application of magic isn’t very explicit. Her training is glossed over and her abilities are rarely given focus. The same goes for anyone else who used magic. Though the magical element of the story doesn’t quite work yet, the political strife among the nations of Mytica does. The rising tension among the three kingdoms is where the intrigue lies.

Parts of the book are a little too fast-paced in some places, but the direction of the story is promising. Overall, this was a classic fantasy that I enjoyed. Though the plot isn’t unique, Falling Kingdoms still entertains in its familiarity. I’m really excited to read more about Magnus, especially.