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A review by writervid
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
3.0
Reread! I first read this series when I didn't have Goodreads, before Immortal Reign was released, which I never got around to reading. That being said, I remember very little of what had happened; I only remembered Magnus and Cleo's names and roles, and a bit about the Elementia. Rereading this did feel like turning fresh eyes to it because of that.
Ultimately, I think this is the weakest book in the series (excluding the fact that I haven't read Immortal Reign). It relies heavily on fantasy cliches that we're all familiar with without expanding upon them very much--the fiery princess who doesn't want to get married, the dark prince grappling between goodness and intimidation, the scrappy rebel who wants to make a change, the magical sorceress, etcetera, etcetera. My notes from my first read say "very stereotypical fantasy," which is still true. While the book attempts to vary it up through worldbuilding and character description, exposition often feels clunky and forced. There's also a bit too much of the idea that everyone falls in love with the two main female characters, which tires me.
That being said, I really enjoy this series, and this book within it. While some of the schemes read as simplistic as opposed to complex, and the prose isn't vivid, I think what Rhodes does well here is set up the characters for complex arcs and a fascinating world. Juggling that many perspectives is no easy task, and she keeps the narrative balanced between each one in a way that other large cast novels often do not. While the idea of a continent divided by region is common in fantasy, I enjoy hearing how different characters view things based on their context and origin. I think that Jonas' character provides some interesting socialist viewpoints which I hadn't realized before, but I'm very into the "seize the means of production" vibe he has.
A decent start to a series, and an addictive one. Excited to continue my reread!
Ultimately, I think this is the weakest book in the series (excluding the fact that I haven't read Immortal Reign). It relies heavily on fantasy cliches that we're all familiar with without expanding upon them very much--the fiery princess who doesn't want to get married, the dark prince grappling between goodness and intimidation, the scrappy rebel who wants to make a change, the magical sorceress, etcetera, etcetera. My notes from my first read say "very stereotypical fantasy," which is still true. While the book attempts to vary it up through worldbuilding and character description, exposition often feels clunky and forced. There's also a bit too much of the idea that everyone falls in love with the two main female characters, which tires me.
That being said, I really enjoy this series, and this book within it. While some of the schemes read as simplistic as opposed to complex, and the prose isn't vivid, I think what Rhodes does well here is set up the characters for complex arcs and a fascinating world. Juggling that many perspectives is no easy task, and she keeps the narrative balanced between each one in a way that other large cast novels often do not. While the idea of a continent divided by region is common in fantasy, I enjoy hearing how different characters view things based on their context and origin. I think that Jonas' character provides some interesting socialist viewpoints which I hadn't realized before, but I'm very into the "seize the means of production" vibe he has.
A decent start to a series, and an addictive one. Excited to continue my reread!