Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes

Title: Gathering Darkness
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Series: Falling Kingdoms #3
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: December 9, 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

In GATHERING DARKNESS, book three of the New York Times bestselling Falling Kingdoms series, the stakes have never been higher as three teams push forward on a race to find the Kindred, the four elemental crystals possessing ancient all-powerful magic, first:

Prince Magnus has just witnessed torture, death, and miracles during the bloody confrontation that decimated the rebel forces. Now he must choose between family and justice as his father, the cruel King Gaius, sets out to conquer all of Mytica. All Gaius needs now are the Kindred - the four elemental crystals that give godlike powers to their owner. But the King of Blood is not the only one hunting for this ancient, storied magic...

• THE KRAESHIANS join the hunt. Ashur and Amara, the royal siblings from the wealthy kingdom across the Silver Sea, charm and manipulate their way to the Kindred, proving to be more ruthless than perhaps even the King of Blood himself.

• THE REBELS forge ahead. Princess Cleo and vengeful Jonas lead them, slaying with sweetness, skill, and a secret that can control Lucia's overpowering magic - all so they can use the Kindred to win back their fallen kingdoms.

• THE WATCHERS follow Melenia out of the Sanctuary. They ally in the flesh with King Gaius, who vows to use Lucia's powers to unveil the Kindred.

The only certainty in the dark times is that whoever finds the magic first will control the fate of Mytica... but fate can be fickle when magic is involved.

Review

I have been seriously impressed by this series from the start. Originally told from the perspective of 4 individuals but growing in scope, the Falling Kingdom series tells the story of a greedy king, a rebel leader, a vengeful Princess, a troubled Prince, a young Sorceress, and an immortal watcher who are all vying for a powerful source of magic for their own reasons. It may seem like a lot, but it's easy to keep track of the different storylines since they all weave together. I love the intricacy of it all and the different motives that drive them toward this power.

There is scheming and spying and deception and romance and fighting and magic and all sorts of fun stuff that I love to read about. And Morgan Rhodes continues to surprise us with her plot twists so even when I think I know what's going on, I come to find that I don't. But perhaps my favorite thing at the moment is the feelings that are starting to surface in two of my favorite characters. It's a hate-to-love romance my friends and I am very pleased about what happened in this book, although Rhodes definitely made us work for it!

I also love that all of the characters are flawed and complex. I keep changing my mind about some of them which keeps things interesting. I have my favorites that I am rooting for but at this point it looks like everyone has a fair chance of coming out on top at the end of this series. It's scary (but exciting) not knowing how my favorites will fare.

Another thing I  love about this series is that it reads both fast and slow at the same time. It reads fast in the way that there is so much that is happening that I was constantly entertained but it reads slow in the way that there is lots of wonderful world-building and a slow but steady build up of the story. I believe there are supposed to be 6 books so we are only half way there! I am really excited for what is to come.

It's hard to say much without spoiling the series so I will leave it at that. If you are a fantasy-lover than this is a must read for you! If you only dabble in Fantasy than know that this has all the right elements but is on the more detail-oriented end of the fantasy spectrum (so don't expect light and quick). I can't quite claim it as a favorite (yet) but it is a very strong contender. I definitely recommend it! 

REVIEW: Rebel Spring (Falling Kingdoms #2) by Morgan Rhodes

Title: Rebel Spring
Series: Falling Kingdoms #2
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: December 3, 2014
Pages: 416
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:

Love, power, and magic collide with war in the second book of the Falling Kingdoms series

Auranos has fallen and the three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now united as one country called Mytica. But still, magic beckons, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the world...

When the evil King Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, formally linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of events that will forever change the face of this land, forcing Cleo the dethroned princess, Magnus the reluctant heir, Lucia the haunted sorceress, and Jonas the desperate rebel to take steps they never could have imagined.

What I Liked

• Rebel Spring speaks to my inner fantasy lover. I love the backdrop of a conquered kingdom and blood thirsty ruler. I love the presence of magic and the threat of The Watchers who wield it. I love how every character has their own agenda and treachery is as natural as breathing. All of these things and more is what makes me love this book. And the multiple POVs makes sure there is never a dull moment. I was never bored. I was always invested, always anticipating what would happen next. 


• I understand how these characters can be unlikable to some, but I wouldn't want any others. I love their flaws. I love how there is so much more to each of them than the eye can see. Cleo appears weak and submissive but is a snake waiting to strike. Magnus appears to be his father's son but is, in fact, much more kind. Jonas seems hot-headed and selfish, and well... maybe he is, but he is blinded by the loss of his brother and his guilt over his role in the fall of Auranos. Lucia is well-intentioned, but is losing control of herself in the face of the magic she now possesses. And these are just the main characters. I think all of the characters, primary and secondary, are fascinating and they keep things interesting. 


• The character development in this sequel was stronger than in the first, but slightly at a cost to the plot. But I loved getting to know these characters better and their stories are becoming more closely woven together, their fates intertwined.


• I wouldn't exactly say that I welcome death and despair, but when it comes to fantasy, I think it makes for a stronger book. In worlds like these, it is not realistic that good always prevails. It is only natural that bad things will happen to good people, just as often as they may happen to bad people. And Morgan Rhodes understands this. This book wasn't as shocking as Falling Kingdoms was, but Morgan Rhodes is still not afraid to kill off characters, or have good characters suffer. She keeps it real. And I admire her guts.

What I Didn't

• As I mentioned, Rebel Spring is more character-driven than plot-driven I think. But believe me when I say, I was never bored with this book. There is so much going on in this world that plenty of things are still happening. And I think Rebel Spring sets up for a third book nicely. 

Bottom Line

Falling Kingdoms is one of my new favorite fantasy series. It doesn't exactly have the charm like some of my other favorites but it is gutsy, compelling, and unpredictable. The plot and world are simply awesome. The characters aren't perfect, but they are perfect for this book. I can't get enough. 

Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1) by Morgan Rhodes

Title: Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1)

Author: Morgan Rhodes
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Pages: 412, Hardcover

Summary from Goodreads:

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?

Review

You know what I love to see in fantasy books - death of characters (without trying to sound morbid). Yes it is heartbreaking when someone we've grown fond of is killed off but tis is life. If anyone has read George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series you know by now that  no one is safe! But my the betrayal his books are good! Now, I am not saying Falling Kingdoms is on the same level as A Song of Ice and Fire, just that Morgan Rhodes is not afraid to kill off a few characters, which in my opinion, makes the fantasy feel more real and powerful.

I may be a total sucker for fantasy but I LOVED THIS BOOK. First, the characters are really strong. I honestly felt for all them, which let me tell you, made me feel awfully conflicted since they all have contrasting motives. If I had to choose, Cleo would probably be my favorite. She's headstrong, brave, and something fierce. Jonas is so loyal it could cost him his life. He spends the first half of the book blinded by rage but slowly starts to see what is right. Magnus - holy crap! Magnus is the most complex character - I don't even know how to sum him up. On one page he can make you so angry you're seeing red and the next page you want to give him a hug and and do whatever you can to fill that huge hole inside of him. Lucia is selfless and forgiving but has a lot of inner strength. I think Lucia gets the least attention but she plays a fascinating part and I am excited to see her character develop.  Perhaps the BEST thing about the characters - they have all done both good and bad. No one is blameless. 

In this story, you get your typical greedy kings, oppressed people, war, revenge, love, duty - but you also get a really interesting story of magic. The magic is a motivator for a lot of what happens in this book. It's not a large element though yet because very few are capable of the gift but it was steadily built up throughout the book and will likely play a bigger part in the rest of the series. I'm looking forward to seeing the it's use and limits and the lengths that people will go to control it. 

My only small piece of criticism I have is the insta-love between Cleo and Theon BUT it is so small a detail that it does not distract from the book even if you are an avid insta-love hater.

This book had everything a good fantasy book needs. It was very character-driven but the character's were complex and interesting and I really enjoyed how Morgan Rhodes weaved their stories together. The ending was perfectly executed and the set-up for the next book left me wanting more. If you like fantasy books, I definitely recommend picking this one up.