Falling Kingdoms

By: Morgan Rhodes

Narrated by: Fred Berman

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?

"Falling Kingdoms will gut you emotionally. It will make you ache, cry, and beg for the sequel as you turn the last page. I absolutely loved it."--Julie Kagawa, New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Queen

"This triple-layered tale of bloodshed, heartbreak, and tangled court intrigue kept me turning pages very late into the night."--Lesley Livingston, award-winning author of Wondrous Strange

Critic reviews

PRAISE for the FALLING KINGDOMS series:

"Morgan Rhodes has created a rich, living fantasy world and characters that immediately draw the reader in. This is one of those series you can't help but be obsessed with. I can't wait to see what happens next!" —Richelle Mead, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Vampire Academy and The Glittering Court

“An otherworldly epic...evocative and intricate.”—Publishers Weekly

“…You must have this book on your shelves.” —Bustle

“Falling Kingdoms is a superbly written and character-driven narrative.” —Bookpage

“[A] YA Game of Thrones full of intrigue, betrayal, lies and love.” —The Guardian

"Falling Kingdoms will gut you emotionally. It will make you ache, cry, and beg for the sequel as you turn the last page. I absolutely loved it." —Julie Kagawa, New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Queen

“In this Game of Thrones-esque high fantasy, Rhodes has created a world that’s raging with war, deceit, spoiled royals, and a populous needing little to spark a revolution.” —NPR/WAMC’s The Roundtable

"From an opening dripping with blood, magic, and betrayal through complex interweaving plots detailing treachery, deceit, and forbidden love, this novel is the first in a projected series that will immediately engage readers and keep them intrigued.” —Booklist

Loved the book! Disenchanted by the narrator :(

What made the experience of listening to Falling Kingdoms the most enjoyable?

The story, love, betrayal, witches, cruelty of kings, all the good stuff!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lucia. I feel like she has so much more to explore and she had a kind but strong-willed heart.

What didn’t you like about Fred Berman’s performance?

I don't understand why he read every characters lines with such staccato! Mostly what you hear is him taking a deep breath before every line. Then each line is delivered in a hurried rush of words. His narration of the book outside of characters lines is normal but when he speaks in character its harsh, short and gives no life to the character. I didn't connect with his performance at all, which was sad because I LOVED reading this book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I liked the scenes between Cleo and Jonas. I think they both surprised each other. I also like Lucia's scenes because that's where you see her come into her powers.

Any additional comments?

I just wish there was a different narrator. I just purchased the second book to read on my own but I don't think I'll be purchasing the audio book.

"I'm not caught, but I'm biting"

I liked a couple of the characters a lot, most of them enough.

I liked that important characters died--I wasn't expecting most the deaths.

I liked the more or less unique take on elemental magic.

And I liked how I have no idea who is going to end up with whom, though I do have strong suspicions.

It wasn't my favorite, and I imagine I'd have taken forever to finish it if I hadn't gotten it on audio, but I did already order the second book--so four stars it deserves.

The narrator was quite often confusing to listen to. I think it was partly because there were so few he said/she saids, so conversations were hard to follow even between a girl and a boy.

I don't know. I just didn't like the narrator.

Entertaining, if a bit shallow

Any additional comments?

This book was slow to develop with all the plot building and character development, but it was an interesting journey, none the less. It's kind of funny, though, because even after all that development, I felt the story and characters were somewhat shallow. There was also a lot of angst, and this is always my gripe with books in this genre, as I don't think so much angst is necessary to create tension and keep things interesting. However, I did still enjoy this story and I would like to see where it's headed. It held my interest and kept me wanting to know more. The narrator is definitely annoying, though! His women's voices are all ghastly and the men all sound somewhat ridiculous.

good story

the story was good,a little hard to follow sometimes.the narrator was really good,making the book come alive.

perfect

an amazing story for anyone who loves midevil, magic, adventure, or some combination. a greatly well written story, and the readers did an amazing job. I can not wait to continue into the series, and maybe one day see these characters on the big screen.

#teammagnus