Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
Reviewed by Sarah Graves- Henry Larsen Public School
A riveting story about a heavily divided land on the brink of war, Falling Kingdoms is a thrilling drama. Lucia, Magnus, Cleo and Jonas all deal with several issues in the countries Auranos, Paelsia and Limeros, where tensions run extremely high. The characters are dispersed among the three countries, but soon cross each others’ paths in the wake of war, forcing them to face their varying dilemmas. In this grief-stricken land filled with treachery, poverty, sorcery, secrets and yearning, everyone clashes already, not knowing the horror that is to fall, and much sooner than expected. The main cause for the conflict, the one that no one seems to see, is the inequality. It could be seen as a modern representation of the injustice in the world today or a flashback to the times when all was dark, but it’s up to you to decide.
This book was one of the most enchanting books I have ever read; a new twist at every chapter made for a hard-to-put-down read. It is a very intense book indeed, putting you almost in tears one second and smiling to your ears the next. A true teen novel, it incorporates serious modern issues, history, magic and intense drama. The book has different points of view, making you side with all and no characters. A very engaging read, it gives you a real point of view, genuinely changing your opinion every page and helping you connect with the characters. As you can imagine, it results in a wonderfully climactic novel that will leave you fearing what comes next, puzzling the possibilities and wanting even more.