Falling Kingdoms Book Review

Book title: Falling Kingdoms

Author: Morgan Rhodes

Falling Kingdoms is a fantasy story centered around three kingdoms on the island of Mythica. The rulers of each kingdom are constantly battling for power and land, and the subjects of the kingdom are affected by it. The four main character are Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus. Cleo is a pampered princess used to a life of luxury in the wealthy kingdom of Auranos, but she must leave the comforts of the palace to save her kingdom from the upcoming war. Jonas, raised in the slums of the developing kingdom of Paelsia, joins a group of rebels determined to undermine the tyrant leader. Magnus and Lucia are siblings in the harsh ice kingdom of Limeros, their cruel father will do anything to control all of Mythica. Throughout the book, these four characters' paths intertwine as they discover magic, love, and betrayal on the brink of war.

Although Falling Kingdoms appears to follow a basic plot, it is a somewhat unique book. The characters do begin with some normal stereotypes; a princess, a rebel, and heir to the throne, and a sorceress. Despite these character groupings, all of them find ways to break their stereotype, even if they sometimes fall into old tendencies. The unstable character traits make it difficult to predict the characters behavior, leading to some shocking plot twists due to the characters behavior.

There is also magic in the book. Although the land of Mythica has largely forgotten the concept of magic, some people still believe in the legends of elemental magic. Since the land thrives off magic, it is interesting to see how the characters handle magic when it is encountered.

Verdict: Overall, Falling Kingdoms is a good book. Although the characters aren’t the most likable, Morgan Rhodes writing style and strong plot make the book worth reading.

Reviewed by: Anna Gargamelli '23