Quick Review: Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1) by Morgan Rhodes

Falling Kingdoms
(Falling Kingdoms #1)
by Morgan Rhodes

December 11, 2012
412 pages

Goodreads Summary:

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.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.

Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword....

Review

I can't believe I've finally started Falling Kingdoms because I've been wanting to read this series since forever! It was every bit as exciting as I imagined it to be.

What I Liked:
- the story had good pacing
- the world was simple and easily understood
- the characters, I loved some and seriously hated a few
     - Cleo's character development
     - Lucia and her pure sibling affection for her brother
     - the tortured Magnus (but also ewww for his romantic feelings)
     - Jonas and his beliefs (my heart broke for his sudden loss)
- all the romantic possibilities
- great friendships
- thorough explanation of the magic of the world
- you never knew where the story was going

The Not So Much:

- I prefer certain characters over others so straying from their POV was frustrating sometimes

- the incestuous feeling definitely made me cringe

I really enjoyed this first book- Falling Kingdoms was very much just the beginning. I can't wait to see how the characters will evolve and events will unfold.