BookAThonFreak: Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Title: Falling Kingdoms

Author: Morgan Rhodes

Pages: 412

Published: December 11th 2012, by Penguin Books

Series: Fallen Kingdoms #1

Genre: Fantasy, Magic, YA

Stars: 4/5 starts

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?

Okay, this book rocked! I loved every bit of it and so far the fantasy genre is delivering well!!!

Of course, just as everyone was saying, this is basically a teen version of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones (which I have to add....loveeeee!). I absolutely loved the description that Morgan brought out in this book what with the scenery, the culture and all in all the three kingdoms.

a land that is made up of three kingdoms and belief over two goddesses, peace is no longer part of their lives and war is very much upon them all. One princess must travel into an enemy’s territory searching for something long forgotten, another princess must control her powers. A prince must overcome his forbidden love and a young brother, a rebel wants to avenge his brother’s death.

Okay dokayyyy, on to the characters of this book.

I actually, surprisingly, really admired Cleo. She is the youngest princess of the Auranos kingdom and at first she was portrayed as someone who is naive and stubborn, getting everything she wants. Yeah, basically a spoilt brat. Quit fitting for a princess I may just add. However, she definitely matures throughout this book and takes on more responsibilities. I just admired her for that, especially when she tries to stay positive, something terrible happens to her or her loved one around her. I mean, come on Morgan, give the girl some slack at least?!

Next up is Jonas who lives in the Paelsia kingdom, which not only the land between the other two kingdoms, but also the poorest and ruled by a lazy, irresponsible and selfish chief....not to mention a fat one at that. After seeing the death of his eldest brother at the hands of a royal Aurano, she swears to avenge his death and start a rebellion....which he pretty much does albeit in a different way to what he imagined. I absolutely loved him *sigh*, a very rough time of guy buy still sooo adorable! Oh and he is most definitely in love with Cleo. His obsession about her and her-so-called part in his brother death and wanting to kill her does in no way hide the fact that he is slightly smitten with her and me thinks some romance will happen between them two in the next book oh lalala.

I just like to mention quickly here that just like Game of Thrones, you have no idea who is good or who is bad. I mean they all think they have good intentions but they do horrible acts in order to achieve them....aside from Jonas....leave Jonas alone....his poor!

Oh and another thing, every single death in this book comes all of a sudden. I literally jumped out of my seat whenever someone got killed suddenly! Yesh!!

Okay, next two characters are from the Limeros kingdom. Lucia is the most strongest sorcerer and I really like her. She was humble and nice. Magnus, her so called brother, did not warm up to me so much. I found him cold, moody and just very unlikeable. It did not help with his sick attraction to his so called sister!

I really liked the different points of view from these characters and how different their lives were from each other. I also liked the different weathers that each character experienced from different parts of the kingdom. This book it definitely one of betray, power and lust. It’s also nice to see a young person’s point o view amidst all this chaos.

Filled with mythology and cultural references, this book is definitely built on magic and the foundations of two goddesses.

One thing I liked to point out is that I did wish for the female characters to be a bit stronger in this book, doing at least some of the fighting, rather than staying indoors. I knowwww, it doesn’t fit with the plot line, but hey maybe in the next two books?

Notable quotes/passages:

“Then his heart, now broken into a thousand pieces, slowly began to turn to ice.”