La caída de los reinos

Por Morgan Rhodes

Cuando los reinos chocan, se producen terremotos de amor y muerte en la vida de las personas.LIMEROSUn país de paisaje tan frío y cruel como su rey Gaius, un hombre implacable con sus enemigos y aún más con aquellos a quienes dice amar, como van a descubrir los príncipes Magnus y Lucía.PAELSIAUna tierra miserable y empobrecida, habitada por campesinos que se resignan a su destino... salvo algunos como Jonas, lleno de rabia hacia los auranios que han asesinado a su hermano. AURANOSUn reino próspero y envidiado por muchos, que se aproxima a un abismo de destrucción en el que caerá la alegre princesa Cleo. La guerra está a punto de estallar. ¿De qué lado estás?

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: Ediciones SM España
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 1 abr 2013
• ISBN: 9788467561661

Morgan Rhodes

Morgan Rhodes vive en Ontario, Canadá. Desde que era una niña, siempre quiso ser una princesa -de las que sabe cómo manejar una espada para proteger reinos y príncipes de dragones y magos oscuros. En su lugar, se hizo escritora, una cosa igual de buena y mucho menos peligrosa.  Además de la escritura, Morgan disfruta con la fotografía, los viajes y los realities en televisión, además de ser una exigente y voraz lectora de toda clase de libros. Bajo otro pseudónimo, es una autora de bestsellers a nivel nacional con diversas novelas paranormales. La Caída de los Reinos es su primer gran libro de fantasía.

Vista previa del libro

PERSONAJES

REINO DEL SUR

CLEIONA BELLOS (CLEO)

princesa aurania, hermana menor

EMILIA BELLOS

princesa aurania, hermana mayor

THEON RANUS

guardia personal de Cleo

SIMON RANUS

padre de Theon

ARON LAGARIS

noble de la corte, pretendiente de Cleo

CORVIN BELLOS

rey de Auranos

ELENA BELLOS

reina de Auranos, fallecida

NICOLO CASSIAN (NIC)

escudero del rey

MIRA CASSIAN

hermana de Nic y dama de honor de Emilia

ROGERUS CASSIAN

difunto padre de Nic y Mira

DARIUS LARIDES

exprometido de Emilia

SEBASTIEN LAGARIS

padre de Aron

CLEIONA

diosa del fuego y del viento

REINO MEDIO

JONAS AGALLON

hijo menor del vinatero Silas

TOMAS AGALLON

hermano mayor de Jonas

SILAS AGALLON

vinatero, padre de Jonas, Tomas y Felicia

FELICIA AGALLON

hermana mayor de Jonas

PAULO

esposo de Felicia

BRION RADENOS

mejor amigo de Jonas

EIRENE

aldeana

SERA

nieta de Eirene

HUGO BASILIUS

líder de los paelsianos, caudillo

LAELIA BASILIUS

hija de Hugo Basilius

EVA

hechicera primigenia, vigía

REINO DEL NORTE

MAGNUS DAMORA

príncipe de Limeros

LUCÍA DAMORA

princesa de Limeros

GAIUS DAMORA

rey de Limeros

ALTHEA DAMORA

reina de Limeros

SABINA MALLIUS

amante del rey

JANA

hermana de Sabina

MICHOL TRICHAS

pretendiente de Lucía

TOBÍAS ARGYNOS

hijo ilegítimo de Gaius

ANDREAS PSELLOS

pretendiente de Lucía, rival de Magnus

AMIA

criada de las cocinas

VALORIA

diosa de la tierra y el agua

VIGÍAS

ALEXIUS

vigía joven

TIMOTHEUS

vigía anciano

PHAEDRA

vigía joven

DANAUS

vigía anciano

Nunca había matado hasta aquella noche.

–Hazte a un lado –susurró su hermana, y Jana se pegó al muro de piedra del caserón. Escudriñó las sombras que las rodeaban y echó un vistazo rápido a las estrellas, que relucían como diamantes contra el cielo negro.

Cerró los ojos con fuerza y elevó una oración a la hechicera primigenia. Eva, concédeme la magia que necesito para encontrarla esta noche.

Cuando volvió a abrirlos, se quedó paralizada por el pánico: a diez pasos de distancia había un halcón dorado posado en la rama de un árbol.

–Nos vigilan –musitó–. Saben lo que hemos hecho.

–Tenemos que irnos ahora mismo –repuso Sabina sin apartar la vista del ave–. No hay tiempo que perder.

Jana se despegó del muro, ocultando la cara para que el halcón no la reconociera, y siguió a su hermana hasta la puerta de roble macizo de la casa. Sabina apoyó en ella las manos y canalizó su magia, reforzada por la sangre que había derramado antes. Todavía le quedaban restos rojizos bajo las uñas, y Jana se estremeció al recordar la escena. Las manos de Sabina brillaron con una luz ambarina y, un instante después, la puerta se desintegró hasta convertirse en serrín.

La madera no era rival para la magia de la tierra.

Sabina miró a su hermana con una sonrisa victoriosa, pero se puso seria enseguida al ver que Jana soltaba un respingo y la señalaba: de su nariz caía un hilo de sangre.

–No es nada –Sabina se limpió la sangre y entró en el caserón.

Pero sí que lo era. La magia podía hacerles daño si abusaban de ella. Podía incluso matarlas, si no tenían cuidado.

Sabina Mallius no tenía fama de ser demasiado prudente. No había dudado en utilizar su belleza la noche anterior para conducir a su destino a aquel desconocido que encontró en la taberna. Jana, en cambio, había vacilado antes de clavarle la hoja afilada en el corazón.

Sabina era fuerte y apasionada, y no conocía el miedo. Jana, que seguía a su hermana con el corazón en un puño, hubiera deseado parecerse más a ella, pero siempre había sido la más prudente, la que trazaba los planes. La que había visto la señal en las estrellas porque llevaba estudiando el cielo toda su vida.

La niña de la profecía había nacido y se encontraba allí, en aquella casa de piedra y madera que contrastaba con las cabañas de adobe de la aldea cercana.

Jana estaba segura de que habían llegado al lugar adecuado.

Ella encarnaba la sabiduría; Sabina, la acción. Las dos juntas eran imparables.

Sabina dio un grito al girar por un recodo del pasillo y Jana apretó el paso, con el corazón desbocado. En el oscuro corredor, iluminado tan solo por antorchas parpadeantes clavadas en las paredes de piedra, un guardia aferraba a su hermana por el cuello.

Jana no pensó; actuó.

Extendió las manos e invocó la magia del viento. El guardia soltó a Sabina y salió despedido contra la pared, con tanta violencia que cayó derrumbado con un crujido de huesos rotos.

Jana sintió un dolor agudo y punzante en la cabeza, y tuvo que contener el grito que pugnaba por salir de su garganta. Se limpió la sangre espesa que le salía de la nariz con manos temblorosas.

–Gracias, hermana –articuló Sabina acariciándose la garganta.

La magia, alimentada por la sangre fresca, las ayudó a caminar más rápido y les aclaró la vista. Ahora distinguían con claridad los pasillos desconocidos y las estrechas escaleras de piedra. Pero debían darse prisa: los efectos de la magia no durarían demasiado.

–¿Dónde está? –preguntó Sabina.

–Cerca.

–Espero que tengas razón.

–La niña se encuentra aquí, estoy segura –avanzaron unos pasos más por el corredor en penumbra y Jana se detuvo–. Aquí.

La puerta no estaba cerrada con llave. Jana la empujó y las dos hermanas se aproximaron a una cuna de madera tallada. Contemplaron al bebé, envuelto en una suave colcha de piel de conejo: era una niña de piel blanca, con un brillo sonrosado de salud en las mejillas regordetas. A Jana se le iluminó el rostro con una sonrisa, la primera desde hacía muchos días.

–Es preciosa –susurró mientras extendía los brazos para levantar con cuidado a la criatura.

–¿Estás segura de que es ella?

–Sí.

No había estado tan segura de nada en sus diecisiete años de vida. La niña que sostenía en brazos, aquel diminuto bebé de ojos azules como el cielo y pelusilla que algún día se convertiría en una cabellera negra como ala de cuervo, era la que mencionaba la profecía. En el futuro contaría con la magia necesaria para localizar a los vástagos, los cuatro objetos que contenían la fuente de toda la elementia, la magia elemental: tierra y agua, fuego y viento.

Aquella niña poseería la magia de una auténtica hechicera, no la de una bruja común como Jana y Sabina. Sería la primera desde hacía mil años, desde que Eva caminara sobre la tierra. No habría necesidad de sangre ni de muerte para alimentar su magia.

Jana había visto su nacimiento en las estrellas, y sabía que su destino era encontrarla.

–Deja a mi hija donde estaba –gruñó alguien en la oscuridad–. No le hagas daño.

Jana se dio media vuelta, apretando al bebé contra su pecho, y vio una mujer que sostenía una daga cuya hoja brillaba a la luz de las velas. El corazón de la bruja dio un vuelco: ese era el momento que tanto había temido.

–¿Hacerle daño? –los ojos de Sabina relampaguearon–. No tenemos ninguna intención de hacerle daño. Ni siquiera sabes quién es, ¿verdad?

La mujer frunció el ceño por un instante, confusa, pero su mirada se endureció al momento.

–No os la vais a llevar. Si tratáis de hacerlo, os mataré.

–No –Sabina alzó las manos–. No lo harás.

La madre abrió los ojos como platos y boqueó. No podía respirar: Sabina impedía que el aire entrara en sus pulmones. Jana se dio la vuelta con el rostro desencajado, pero todo terminó en un instante: el cuerpo de la mujer cayó al suelo, todavía estremeciéndose pero ya sin vida. Las dos hermanas lo esquivaron y salieron de la habitación.

Jana cubrió a la niña con su capa mientras salían de la casa y huían por el bosque. A Sabina le sangraba mucho la nariz; había abusado de la magia. Las gotas rojas marcaban su rastro sobre el suelo cubierto de nieve.

–Ha habido demasiada muerte esta noche –murmuró Jana cuando redujeron el paso–. Demasiada. Lo detesto.

–No nos habría permitido llevárnosla. Deja que la vea...

Jana titubeó antes de destapar a la niña. Cuando finalmente se la tendió a su hermana, Sabina la tomó en brazos y estudió su rostro en la oscuridad antes de dedicarle a su hermana una sonrisa maliciosa.

–Lo hemos conseguido.

Jana sintió una repentina oleada de entusiasmo, a pesar de todo.

–Sí.

–Eres increíble. Ojalá yo pudiera tener visiones como tú.

–Me exigen grandes esfuerzos y sacrificios.

–Todo conlleva grandes esfuerzos y sacrificios –replicó Sabina, con la voz rota de pronto en un deje de desdén–. Demasiados. Pero esta niña... Para ella la magia será sencilla. La verdad es que la envidio.

–La criaremos juntas; seremos sus maestras y la guiaremos cuando llegue el momento de cumplir su destino. Estaremos a su lado en cada paso que dé.

Sabina negó con la cabeza.

–No. Yo me encargaré de ella.

–¿Qué? –Jana frunció el ceño–. Sabina, creía que estábamos de acuerdo en tomar juntas todas las decisiones.

–Esta no. Tengo otros planes para esta niña –su expresión se endureció–, y me temo que no estás incluida en ellos. Lo siento, hermana.

Jana contempló los fríos ojos de Sabina y, de pronto, un dolor agudo traspasó su pecho. La muchacha gritó de dolor según se clavaba la daga.

Habían compartido todos sus días, todos sus sueños, todos sus secretos...

Al parecer, no todos. Jana nunca hubiera podido prever aquello.

–¿Por qué me traicionas? –consiguió decir–. Eres mi hermana.

Sabina se limpió la sangre de la nariz.

–Por amor.

Cuando la daga salió de su cuerpo, Jana se derrumbó de rodillas en el suelo helado. Sabina se alejó con la niña en brazos hasta que las dos desaparecieron en el bosque oscuro. No volvió la vista atrás ni siquiera una vez.

La visión de Jana comenzó a desdibujarse. El corazón le latía cada vez más despacio.

El halcón que había visto antes levantó el vuelo para dejarla morir sola.

CAPÍTULO 1

DIECISÉIS AÑOS DESPUÉS

–Sin vino ni belleza, la vida no merecería la pena, ¿no crees, princesa? –Aron rodeó los hombros de Cleo con un brazo mientras los cuatro caminaban por el camino empedrado.

Habían atracado en el puerto hacía menos de dos horas y ya estaba completamente borracho. La verdad es que no era raro, tratándose de Aron.

Cleo miró de reojo al guardia de palacio que los acompañaba; sus ojos refulgían de disgusto al ver a Aron tan pegado a la princesa de Auranos, pero no tenía por qué preocuparse. A pesar de que Aron siempre llevaba una elegante daga enjoyada al cinto, era tan peligroso como una mariposa. Como una mariposa borracha.

–Completamente de acuerdo –mintió Cleo.

–¿Falta mucho? –preguntó Mira.

Aquella bonita muchacha de melena cobriza y cutis perfecto era amiga de Cleo y doncella de honor de su hermana, la princesa Emilia; y aunque esta había decidido quedarse en casa por una repentina jaqueca, había insistido en que Mira acompañara a Cleo en aquel viaje de placer. Cuando el barco llegó a puerto, el resto de componentes de la expedición decidieron quedarse a bordo mientras Cleo y Mira acompañaban a Aron a visitar una aldea cercana para encontrar «la botella de vino perfecta». Las bodegas de palacio estaban abarrotadas de vino, tanto de Auranos como de Paelsia, pero Aron había oído hablar de un viñedo en particular que producía un caldo supuestamente incomparable. A petición suya, Cleo reservó uno de los barcos de su padre e invitó a un montón de amigos a viajar a Paelsia en busca de la botella ideal.

–Pregúntale a Aron. Él es nuestro guía en esta empresa.

Cleo se arrebujó en su capa de terciopelo para resguardarse del frío. La nieve no había cuajado, pero aún caían copos menudos sobre el camino. Aunque Paelsia estaba más al norte que Auranos, a Cleo le había sorprendido el frío; Auranos era cálido y luminoso incluso en los meses más crudos del invierno. Su paisaje era una sucesión de colinas verdes, robustos olivos y acres y más acres de tierra fértil de labranza. Paelsia, por el contrario, era gris y polvorienta hasta donde alcanzaba la vista.

–¿Que si falta mucho? –exclamó Aron–. ¿Mucho? Mira, corazón, lo bueno se hace esperar. Recuérdalo.

–Señor mío, yo soy una persona muy paciente –sonrió para suavizar su protesta–, pero me están empezando a doler los pies.

–Hace un día precioso y tengo la suerte de viajar en compañía de dos bellas mujeres. Debemos dar gracias a la diosa por los dones que nos concede.

El guardia puso los ojos en blanco. Cuando se dio cuenta de que Cleo había visto el gesto, no apartó la vista de inmediato como habría hecho cualquier otro, sino que le sostuvo la mirada con una altivez que la sorprendió. Era la primera vez que veía a ese guardia o, al menos, era la primera vez que se fijaba en él.

–¿Cómo te llamas? –le preguntó.

–Theon Ranus, alteza.

–Bueno, Theon, ¿tienes algo que aportar a la discusión sobre lo mucho que hemos andado esta tarde?

–No, princesa.

Aron se rio y bebió de su petaca.

–Me sorprende, ya que tendrás que ocuparte de llevar las cajas de vino hasta el barco.

–Es mi deber y constituye un honor serviros.

Cleo le contempló por unos instantes. Tenía el pelo del color del bronce oscurecido y la piel morena. Si no hubiera sabido que se trataba de uno de los soldados que su padre se había empeñado en que llevara consigo, lo habría tomado por un joven noble de los que esperaban en la nave.

Aron debía de estar pensando justo lo mismo.

–Pareces muy joven para ser guardia de palacio –declaró, arrastrando las palabras y contemplándole con la mirada desenfocada–. No puedes ser mucho mayor que yo.

–Tengo dieciocho años, mi señor.

–Entonces retiro lo dicho –resopló–. Eres mucho mayor que yo. Muchísimo.

–Un año –le recordó Cleo.

–Un año puede ser una deliciosa eternidad –sonrio Aron–. Tengo intención de disfrutar al máximo mi juventud y esquivar todas las responsabilidades durante el año que me queda.

Cleo le ignoró; el apellido del guardia le sonaba de algo. Había oído a su padre comentar algo acerca de la familia Ranus cuando salía de una reunión del consejo. De pronto lo recordó: el padre de Theon había muerto hacía una semana al caerse de un caballo. Se había roto el cuello y había fallecido al instante.

–Siento la pérdida que acabas de sufrir –declaró con sinceridad–. Simon Ranus era el guardia personal de mi padre, y sé que lo quería y lo respetaba.

Theon frunció las cejas como si le sorprendiera oírle hablar de aquello.

–Ostentaba su cargo con orgullo, y espero que el rey Corvin me haga el honor de tenerme en cuenta cuando busque un reemplazo –repuso con frialdad, aunque sus ojos oscuros se habían nublado por la pena–. Os agradezco vuestra amabilidad, alteza.

Aron soltó un bufido y Cleo le fulminó con la mirada.

–¿Era un buen padre? –preguntó.

–El mejor. Me enseñó todo lo que sabía desde el instante en que fui capaz de sostener una espada.

Cleo asintió amablemente.

–Entonces, sus conocimientos no morirán con él.

Ahora que el apuesto guardia había captado su atención, le resultaba cada vez más difícil hacer caso a Aron. La vida de palacio había hecho al joven débil y pálido. Theon, en cambio, tenía los hombros anchos y los brazos musculosos, y llenaba de manera sorprendente la librea azul de los guardias reales.

–Aron –comenzó Cleo sintiéndose vagamente culpable por haber dejado abandonados a sus amigos–, media hora más y regresamos al barco. Los demás nos aguardan desde hace horas.

Los auranios eran más conocidos por su afición a las fiestas que por su paciencia. Sin embargo, como todos habían viajado hasta Paelsia en el barco del padre de Cleo, a sus amigos no les quedaba más remedio que esperarlos para volver a casa.

–¡Al fin! Ese es el mercado –señaló Aron, y Cleo y Mira distinguieron a lo lejos un grupo de gente que pululaba entre casetas de madera y carpas de colores. Eran los primeros habitantes que se encontraban desde hacía más de una hora, cuando adelantaron a un grupo de niños harapientos que se calentaban en torno a una fogata–. Ya verás cómo ha merecido la pena venir hasta aquí.

El vino de Paelsia era digno de la diosa; delicioso y suave, no tenía parangón en ninguna otra tierra. No dejaba resaca al día siguiente por mucho que se bebiera. Circulaba la leyenda de que había magia de la tierra en los suelos de Paelsia y en las propias uvas, y que por ese motivo el vino era perfecto en aquella tierra llena de defectos.

Cleo no tenía ninguna intención de catarlo. No pensaba volver a probar el vino en su vida; de hecho, llevaba meses sin hacerlo. Antes de dejarlo, había frecuentado más de lo aconsejable tanto el delicioso vino paelsio como el vino auranio, que no sabía mucho mejor que el vinagre. Pero la gente –Cleo, al menos– no bebía por el sabor del vino, sino por sus resultados: la embriaguez, la sensación de no tener ninguna preocupación en el mundo... Esa sensación, cuando no había nada que te anclara a la tierra, podía hacerte derivar hasta aguas muy peligrosas, y Cleo estaba decidida a no probar nada más fuerte que el agua o el zumo de melocotón en el futuro.

Aron vació la petaca de un trago. Él bebía por los dos, y jamás se disculpaba de nada que hubiera hecho estando borracho. A pesar de todos sus defectos, muchos en la corte lo veían como el futuro esposo de Cleo. A ella la idea le provocaba escalofríos, pero procuraba no perder de vista a Aron porque él conocía su secreto; aunque no lo había mencionado en varios meses, Cleo estaba segura de que no lo había olvidado. No lo olvidaría jamás.

Si ese secreto salía a la luz, la destruiría.

Y por ese motivo toleraba a Aron en público con una sonrisa en los labios. Nadie podría adivinar lo mucho que lo odiaba.

–Ya estamos –anunció él cuando entraron en el mercado de la aldea.

Más allá de los puestos, a la derecha, Cleo divisó algunas edificaciones. Aunque parecían menos prósperas que las granjas de Auranos, observó sorprendida que las granjas de adobe, con sus techos de paja y sus ventanucos, estaban limpias y cuidadas, lo cual no concordaba con la visión que tenía de Paelsia: una tierra repleta de campesinos miserables, gobernada por un caudillo –ni siquiera un rey– del que se decía que era un poderoso hechicero. A pesar de la proximidad de Paelsia, Cleo jamás dedicaba mucho tiempo a sus vecinos; apenas mostraba un vago interés de cuando en cuando por las leyendas y cuentos de los bárbaros paelsianos.

Aron se detuvo ante un puesto cubierto por un toldo púrpura que lamía el suelo polvoriento, y Mira suspiró de alivio.

–Por fin...

Cleo miró hacia la izquierda y se encontró con dos ojos negros que brillaban en un rostro curtido. Retrocedió, sobresaltada, y sintió la presencia reconfortante de Theon, firme y seguro a su espalda. El dueño del puesto tenía un aspecto rudo, incluso peligroso, igual que la mayoría de la gente con la que se habían topado desde su llegada a Paelsia. Sus dientes, algo mellados pero muy blancos, relucían a la clara luz del día. Vestía un sencillo jubón de lino, una pelliza de oveja y una capa de lana, y Cleo se sintió de pronto muy consciente de su capa forrada de marta cibelina y su vestido de seda azul pálido con bordados en oro.

Aron miró al hombre con expresión interesada.

–¿Silas Agallon?

–Ese soy yo.

–Bien. Es tu día de suerte, Silas. Me han dicho que tu vino es el mejor de Paelsia.

–Os han informado bien.

Una chica encantadora de cabello oscuro apareció tras la caseta.

–Mi padre es un gran vinatero –comentó.

–Esta es Felicia, mi hija –dijo Silas–, que debería estar preparándose para su boda ahora mismo.

Ella se echó a reír.

–¿Y dejarte aquí para que cargues barriles todo el día? No, he venido a pedirte que cierres temprano.

–Tal vez –el brillo satisfecho de los ojos del vinatero desapareció al contemplar los elegantes ropajes de Aron–. ¿Quién sois?

–Tú y tu encantadora hija tenéis el privilegio de hallaros en presencia de su alteza real Cleiona Bellos, princesa de Auranos –señaló Aron–. Esta es la dama Mira Cassian. Y yo soy Aron Lagaris, hijo del señor de Pasoviejo, en la costa sur de Auranos.

La hija del vinatero miró a Cleo con sorpresa y luego inclinó la cabeza respetuosamente.

–Es un honor, alteza.

–Sí, todo un honor –asintió Silas sin que Cleo notara sarcasmo en sus palabras–. Es raro que la realeza de Auranos o de Limeros venga a visitar nuestra humilde aldea. La verdad es que no recuerdo la última vez que ocurrió... Será un honor daros a probar mis productos mientras decidís qué queréis comprar, alteza.

Cleo negó, sonriente.

–Es Aron el que está interesado; yo me limito a acompañarle.

El vinatero pareció desilusionado, incluso algo dolido.

–Aun así, ¿me concederíais el honor de brindar por la boda de mi hija?

¿Cómo iba a rechazarlo?

–Por supuesto –asintió, intentando que no se le notara lo poco que le apetecía–. Será un placer.

Cuanto antes lo hiciera, antes se marcharían del mercado. Sí, estaba lleno de gente y era de lo más colorido, pero no olía demasiado bien. La verdad es que atufaba, como si hubiera una letrina cerca y nadie se hubiera molestado en plantar hierbas aromáticas o flores que atenuaran el hedor. Aunque Felicia parecía feliz ante su inminente boda, la pobreza de aquella gente resultaba asfixiante, y Cleo se arrepintió de no haberse quedado en el barco con sus amigos mientras Aron iba a comprar vino.

Lo único que sabía de aquella tierra tan miserable era que Paelsia poseía una riqueza de la que no gozaba ninguno de los otros dos reinos: en las comarcas cercanas al mar crecían unos viñedos que dejaban en ridículo a todos los demás. Cleo había oído historias de gente que robaba vides paelsianas para plantarlas en otro lugar, y luego descubrían que se secaban y morían en cuanto cruzaban las fronteras.

–Seréis mis últimos clientes –dijo Silas–. Voy a hacer caso a mi hija: en cuanto os atienda, cerraré la tienda y la ayudaré con los preparativos. Se casa al atardecer...

–Enhorabuena –masculló Aron con desinterés, revisando las botellas con los labios fruncidos–. ¿Dispones de vasos adecuados para la degustación?

–Por supuesto –Silas abrió una caja de madera desvencijada, sacó tres copas que refulgieron a la luz y descorchó una botella. Vertió en las copas un líquido ambarino y le tendió la primera a Cleo.

Antes de que pudiera tocarla, Theon apareció a su lado y se la arrebató. La expresión oscura del guardia hizo que Silas diera un paso atrás, tembloroso, e intercambiara una mirada con su hija.

–Pero ¿qué haces? –exclamó Cleo, asombrada.

–¿Pensáis probar sin más algo que os ofrece un extraño? –dijo Theon con brusquedad.

–No está envenenado.

–¿Estáis segura de eso? –replicó examinando el fondo de la copa.

Cleo comenzaba a impacientarse. ¿Cómo podía pensar que quisieran envenenarla? ¿Para qué? La paz reinaba desde hacía más de un siglo; no existía ninguna amenaza. Si había llevado escolta a aquella excursión era para que su padre se quedara tranquilo, no porque hubiera necesidad de ello.

–De acuerdo –Cleo se encogió de hombros–. ¿Quieres servirme de catador? Allá tú. Si caes muerto en el acto, me aseguraré de no probarlo.

–Menuda estupidez –dijo Aron arrastrando las palabras y, sin pensárselo dos veces, vació su copa de un trago.

–¿Y bien? –Cleo lo observó–. ¿Te estás muriendo?

–Sí, pero de sed –respondió él tras saborear el vino con los ojos cerrados.

Cleo se volvió hacia Theon y lo miró con sorna.

–¿Tendrías la bondad de devolverme la copa? ¿O piensas que este hombre se ha dedicado a envenenar algunas copas en concreto?

–Por supuesto que no. Tened, os lo ruego.

Cleo tomó la copa que Theon le ofrecía. Miró de reojo al vinatero: sus ojos oscuros mostraban más vergüenza que enfado ante el espectáculo que había provocado el guardia.

–Estoy convencida de que será una delicia –comentó, tratando de olvidar la dudosa limpieza del cristal.

El vinatero asintió, agradecido, y Theon se apartó de ellos para quedarse plantado junto al puesto. Aunque estaba en posición de descanso, se notaba que seguía alerta. Y ella que creía que su padre era demasiado protector...

Aron vació una segunda copa.

–Qué maravilla. Es absolutamente increíble, justo como me dijeron.

Mira dio un elegante sorbito y enarcó las cejas, sorprendida.

–¡Excelente!

Bien, era su turno. Cleo se llevó la copa a los labios y, en el instante en que el líquido le rozó la lengua, una expresión de pesar inundó su rostro. Y no porque estuviera rancio, sino porque era delicioso, dulce y suave; no tenía ni punto de comparación con nada que hubiera probado jamás. Sintió el deseo de beber más y el corazón se le aceleró. Vació la copa de un par de sorbos y contempló a sus amigos: de pronto el mundo parecía dorado, como si todos estuvieran rodeados de una aureola que los hacía mucho más hermosos de lo que eran. Para empezar, Aron le resultaba un poco menos repulsivo, y también encontraba atractivo a Theon a pesar de su actitud arrogante. Aquel vino era peligroso, no había duda. Valía todo lo que el vinatero quisiera cobrarles, y Cleo supo que debía mantenerse alejada de él tanto ahora como en el futuro.

–El vino es extraordinario –comentó, esforzándose por no delatar su inquietud. Le hubiera gustado pedir otra copa, pero se tragó las palabras.

Silas parecía radiante.

–Me alegra oír eso.

–Siempre lo digo –asintió Felicia–: mi padre es un genio.

–Sí, creo que merece la pena comprar este vino –dijo Aron con voz pastosa; teniendo en cuenta lo mucho que había bebido en la última hora, era sorprendente que pudiera mantenerse en pie sin ayuda–. Me llevaré ahora cuatro cajas, y quiero que me envíen una docena más a casa.

A Silas se le iluminaron los ojos.

–Podemos arreglarlo.

–Te daré quince florines auranios por caja.

–Pero... –la piel bronceada del vinatero perdió el color–. Valen al menos cuarenta cada una. Me han pagado incluso cincuenta.

–¿Cuándo? –los labios de Aron se afinaron hasta convertirse en una línea–. ¿Hace cinco años? Me temo que la clientela ya no es la misma que entonces. No es que Limeros compre demasiado, ¿verdad? Teniendo en cuenta las penurias por las que atraviesa el reino, dudo que la importación de vino esté en su lista de prioridades. Así que no queda más que Auranos, porque todo el mundo sabe que la gente de este país dejado de la mano de la diosa no tiene ni para comer. Quince por caja es mi última oferta; puesto que quiero dieciséis cajas, y quizá más en el futuro, diría que has hecho un negocio redondo. ¿No es una buena cantidad de dinero para la boda de tu hija? Se llama Felicia, ¿verdad? Felicia, ¿no crees que mi oferta es mejor que cerrar sin vender nada?

Felicia se mordió el labio inferior y frunció el entrecejo.

–Sí, tal vez sea mejor que nada... Sé que la boda va a costar mucho dinero, pero... No lo sé. ¿Padre?

Silas abrió la boca para decir algo, pero se contuvo. Cleo no estaba prestando demasiada atención; intentaba resistir la tentación de beberse la copa que Silas había vuelto a llenarle. A Aron le encantaba regatear, le servía de pasatiempo. Siempre intentaba conseguirlo todo al precio más bajo, fuera lo que fuera.

–No quisiera enemistarme con vos –dijo al fin Silas retorciéndose las manos–, pero ¿estaríais dispuesto a pagar veinticinco florines la caja?

–No –Aron se revisó las uñas–. Por bueno que sea el vino, hay otros vendedores en el mercado y en el camino hacia el puerto que estarían encantados de aceptar mi oferta. Siempre puedo acudir a ellos, si prefieres perder la venta. ¿Es eso lo que quieres?

–No, yo... –Silas tragó saliva. Su frente estaba surcada de arrugas–. Quiero vender mi vino; por eso estoy aquí. Sin embargo, a quince florines...

–Tengo una idea mejor. ¿Qué tal catorce florines la caja? –un destello de maldad brilló en los ojos verdes de Aron–. Si no aceptas mi oferta a la cuenta de diez, bajaré un florín más.

Mira apartó la vista, avergonzada. Cleo abrió la boca para protestar, pero recordó de pronto que Aron conocía su secreto y podía utilizarlo contra ella, así que volvió a cerrarla. Estaba decidido a conseguir el precio más bajo posible, y no porque le faltara el dinero; era lo bastante rico para comprar todas las cajas que le apetecieran al precio más alto.

–De acuerdo –gruñó Silas finalmente apretando los dientes, como si aquello le doliera en lo más hondo. Cruzó una mirada con su hija antes de volver la vista hacia Aron–. Catorce florines la caja, dieciséis cajas. Mi hija disfrutará de la boda que se merece.

–Excelente. Como decimos los auranios, siempre habrá uvas en Paelsia para alimentar a los paelsianos.

Con una sonrisita de satisfacción, Aron se metió la mano en el bolsillo, sacó un fajo de billetes y se puso a contarlos tranquilamente. Era evidente que tenía dinero

Comentarios para La caída de los reinos

[sennebec · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I like the multiple viewpoints approach here. It will throw some readers off, but it helps the tension level and moves the story nicely. I'm on to the next installment now.

[jamestomasino · Calificación: 1 de 5 estrellas]

If you stirred a pot of great fantasy book ideas and ladled out a helping at random, coaxed it to life in a NANOWRIMO style sprint, and slapped a fancy cover on the front, you would have Falling Kingdoms. It was, unfortunately, not worth the read.

[fionaanne · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

Mildly deficient in so many ways (awkward prose, wooden characters, unoriginal plot) that it was hard to determine what made this book so unlikeable.

[dr_cicle · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Characters (4/5):I really enjoyed all of the characters to some degree. All of them were kind of assholes but had redeeming qualities. My favorite character was Theon. I loved him so much and rooted for him throughout the whole book. My least favorite character was Emilia. I felt like she didn't do much for the story and seemed more trouble than she should of been.World (5/5):I liked the world builders a lot. I didn't feel like I was just thrown in without any explanation, which was nice. Most things were explained and were very interesting to learn about.Writing (4/5):I enjoyed the writing style. I didn't feel like anything was weird or explained strangely throughout the novel.Plot (5/5):I. LOVED. THIS. STORY. I was on the edge of my seat for about 3/4 of the book, just wondering what was going to happen. So many characters died (some made me cry and some made me rejoice). I would say more but I don't want to spoil anything.Intrigue (4.5/5):I picked up this book because I wanted to read a fantasy novel and boy did I get one. After a huge major event happens in the first 30 pages of the book, I instantly became hooked.Enjoyment (5/5):If you couldn't tell, I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait to pick up the next one in the series!

[great_east_road · Calificación: 1 de 5 estrellas]

See my review of this book, and many more, at Tales from the Great East Road.

(Spoilers below.)

The three kingdoms of Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia may have been at peace for many years, but tensions are rising. Paelsia struggles with poverty and exploitation from both its neighbours, and when a foolish nobleman from Auranos kills one of their people, Paelsia joins forces with the cruel and cunning king of Limeros, who sees this as an opportunity to take out his rival. The children of these lands are drawn unwillingly into this political battle. Princess Cleo, daughter of the Auranos king, must leave her life of luxury in search of a magic long forgotten. Desperate to avenge his brother, Jonas finds himself leading the Paelsian rebels. Princess Lucia of Limeros discovers that she has supernatural powers her father wants to control, whilst her brother Magnus must choose between ending up like his father or the love that could be his salvation - if it wasn't forbidden. In these three kingdoms no-one is safe from treachery, politics, or love.
Falling Kingdoms has been praised as "George R.R. Martain for young adults". Heed my warning, and don't be fooled by this: A Song of Ice and Fire this book is not. What it is is a predictable and, quite frankly, boring mess that promotes a sexist idea a what a woman should be and is patronising to teen readers. At times it felt like the book was trying to live up to the ASoIaF comparison - there's even a incestuous unrequited love from Magnus to his sister Lucia. (Only, wait! No, it's ok, she's actually adopted so it's all good. Incest? Eww, don't you know this books for kids? What's wrong with you?) Though Magnus began as a very interesting character, grappling with the desire for Lucia he knew was wrong whilst also trying to be a good brother, and son to his evil father, but once Lucia rejects him he becomes 'cold' and just as two-dimensional as the rest of the cast. Also, it seems that this means that Lucia must 'save' Magnus in the later books from his evil father. (How? By falling in love with him, of course! It's all women are good for, after all.)

This problem, however, was just the tip of the iceberg compared to the waste that was Princess Cleo. Spoilt, selfish, predictable, but of course beautiful, and oh-so-special, Cleo is a Mary Sue at her worst. The forbidden romance between her and her guard was obvious from the moment she compares him to a drunken lord, and this was the first chapter. Watching her 'struggle' with this 'burden' of loving someone she shouldn't was just plain boring to read. But the absolute worst was the scene where Cleo has a moment where she realises she is just a political puppet being used by others if she continues to let them, and that everyone sees her as a spoilt little girl. Yet, instead of standing up for herself, she decides not to interfere or change because 'she might get in Daddy's way'. This is unbelievably sexist, yet this series is clearly meant to be the story of how Cleo becomes a strong, brave Queen.

I was not impressed with Falling Kingdoms in the slightest, and will not be reading any this series or anything from this author again.
1 star.

[mirandalg14 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

2.5 stars. It was readable, but I didn't really enjoy it. There was a lot going on, but I didn't connect with any of the characters. It's hard to like a book if you don't like any of the people.

[wagner5sarah35 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Honestly, I couldn't decide whether to give this book three or four stars. I loved the setting, the mythology, the ideas behind the plot & characters, but... Falling Kingdoms does lack something, either character development or depth of description or something. It certainly didn't engross me like Cinda William Chima's Seven Realms series did a few months ago. I'll likely read the sequel (I'm interested enough for that), but I'm not eager to delve right in like I typically am.

[angelacinva · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

It's not often I give up on a book. But with so many other things to read, I couldn't see the point in investing the time to finish this one. At nearly half way through, I didn't care about any of the characters and found the plot confused and uninteresting. The constantly shifting point of view felt choppy and kept me from being drawn into the story.

[leahlo89 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

ALL THE STARS! Full review and more at Bumble Bee Books!

This is a really complex book. There are three separate kingdoms with three separate cast of characters. Eventually, the characters cross paths, but there is still a ton of people to keep straight. Thank the goddess that there is a breakdown of the cast of characters in the beginning of the book. MARK THIS PAGE! I found myself looking back to it more than I have with any other book.

The book starts out telling you about two witches stealing a baby from her mother because the baby is prophesied to be a sorceress that will save their world when she comes into her power. You then go on to meet all of these characters, but you can narrow it down from the get-go that the baby at the beginning is Princess Lucia. Once you learn more about the characters, you'll figure it out quickly (it's not meant to be a secret for the reader). It's easy to forget about the Prologue, but as the book goes on you realize how important it is (just a heads up).

AURANUS (The Princess)
This kingdom is the richest of the three. It is ran by King Corvin and his two daughters, Princess Emilia and Princess Cleo. Cleo is the main character in this story. You learn the most about her and her personality. Cleo is impulsive, stubborn, and is used to getting what she wants. She has also been coddled all of her life because she is the baby of the family and her sister is the one being groomed to take the throne after her father. When Cleo and her soon-to-be betrothed Lord Aron (who she hates, btw) take a trip to the neighboring country of Paelsia, tragedy strikes. A young man finds his throat at the business end of Aron's dagger after he threatens Aron and Cleo. Aron feigns self-defense, but this event single handedly gets the ball rolling for everything else in the book. After the death of the young man in Paelsia, Cleo is heavy with grief. Things go from bad to worse for her quickly. Cleo has to find her inner strength and humbleness as she fights for the one she loves, her family, and her kingdom.

PAELSIA (The Rebel)
Paelsia is the middle country between Limeros and Auranus. This is also the poorest country. The people make their meager ages by growing grapes that are said to be grown using earth magic in the otherwise barren soil. The other countries look at Paelsians as savages because of the poverty they live in. The country is ran by a chieftan who claims to possess the magic that is long gone from the rest of the country. His magic is the only hope that the country has that better times are to come. Jonas and Tomas are two young men who live to keep their family alive in Paelsia. When Tomas is killed by Lord Aron of Auranus, Jonas vows to stop at nothing until he seeks revenge from the arrogant Lord Aron who killed his brother and the smug Princess Cleo who stood by with her guard and did nothing. Jonas must choose between brute force and using his cunningness to avenge his brother. Street smarts and common sense win out and Jonas finds himself on the brim of a revolution in his small, poor country. How far is he will to go for his brother? At what point does it stop being about his own grief and becomes about the country itself?

LIMEROS (The Heir and The Sorceress)
Limeros is the northern most country. The climate (and the people) is frigid and always seems to have a bitter chill. Limeros is ran by King of Blood, King Gaius and his family: Queen Althea, Prince Magnus, and Princess Lucia. There is also the king's mistress, Sabina, who is his most trusted advisor and his rumored bastard son, Tobias, who has his eye on the throne. King Gaius has never had any interest in Magnus (except for beating him). In his eyes, Magnus is weak and soft hearted and embarrasses the family. King Gaius runs his country with a strong, bloody hand and even if someone is thought to be a witch, they are punished by death. King Gaius wants his country to stay devout to their goddess and will not hear anything of any sort of magic. When a revolution begins in the neighboring Paelsia, King Gaius sees this as a way to seek the ultimate power and take over the entire continent of Mytica. With the country on the edge of war, Prince Magnus finally find himself useful to the king. Magnus has a lot of secrets, though, and some of those secrets could ostracize him from his family and kingdom completely. Magnus has to learn to put his feelings behind him and harden his heart for the good of the country... But how far will he go? Can he ever live up to the King of Blood?

THE SANCTUARY
So there is also this subplot going on through this whole thing about these Watches who live in a paradise called the Sanctuary in another realm. They can take the form of a hawk and travel to the mortal realm to see what's going on, but if they ever venture out in their human form then they can't ever go back. They are looking for these ancient crystal things.. It's hard to explain (because I don't 100% understand it myself. I think there will be way more detail in the sequels). It all goes back to the Prologue with the witches and the baby sorceress.

So that is the watered down, dumbed down synopsis of everything that is going on. I didn't even touch half of everything, because you know, spoilers. Like I said before, there are SO many characters and SO many POVs and you really have a tough time picking sides... especially when everyone starts becoming involved in each other's life. Eventually ALL of the characters become intertwined and it is just nuts.

There is so much action. SO MUCH ACTION. If I could really only describe this book with one word, it would be death. Oh, you like that character? DEAD. What about that one? DEAD. That one over there? TORTURED THEN DEAD. I found myself gasping and wanting to rip the book in half because every time I really started to get attached... DEAD. This is a book that will certainly keep you on your toes. Rhodes really channeled her inner George R.R. Martin for this one.






There is also a lot of love stories going on. You know that Aron and Cleo are supposed to get married even though she hates him. You can guess that Nic is in love with Cleo. Theon sounds like a hottie and Cleo is definitely giving him the sexy eye. Jonas would rather die than be around Cleo (except to kill her for revenge), but fingers crossed this is actual just sexual tension because he has it bad for her too. Then there is Jonas and Lailah. King Gaius and his sidechick Sabina. All the boys in the yard and Princess Lucia. And I can't leave out the Mortal Instruments thing Magnus and Lucia have going on (and because of this, in my head I have Jamie Campbell Bower as Prince Magnus even though he looks NOTHING like Magnus is described as. Oh well the heart wants what the heart wants). From all of the YA lit that I have read, I am pretty desensitized to the incest thing (after reading Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, I will never judge again), so I was rooting for them. Regardless, pretty much everyone in the book sounds like a hottie. The girls are all raven haired and fair skin or sun kissed with golden hair. My favorite hotties were Jonas, Theon, and Magnus.

Falling Kingdoms was amazing. Beyond amazing. It is for sure one of my favorite books I have read this year. If you take Game of Thrones, Kiss of Deception, and Throne of Glass and mash them all up, then you have an idea of what this book is about. It is literally taking all the will in my body to stop myself from running to the book store and buying the sequel. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. I feel like this is one of those books that you either REALLY REALLY LOVE or you absolutely hate. If you read other reviews, they're fairly mixed and divided. I think if you like any of the books listed above as comparison then you will enjoy this one. I couldn't get enough.

5/5 stars

[alcarinqa_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Falling Kingdoms is the first volume in an epic Fantasy series centred on the land of Mytica, which is split into three kingdoms simmering on the brink of war. I liked the fast paced plot and settings of the book, but have a few concerns about the characterisation. Overall, it’s a great book and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.For me, the brilliance of this book is in the world building. Auranos is a prosperous land, of which Cleo is the younger princess, and the object of envy from the other two kingdoms: Paelsia, the bordering kingdom that has declined to the point of ruin, and Limeros, a well to do place ruled by a vicious king known as the Blood King for obvious reasons. The problems between Auranos and Paelsia are economic: Paelsia signed a contract to produce only wine, to export to Auranos, and thus import food and other items from Auranos in return. Paelsia’s very soil is now unable to sustain anything but grapes for wine (it seems magical intervention has made this so), and so they are at the mercy of Auranos, who buy the wine from them at ever decreasing prices. This, combined with a leader who takes 75% of the wine profits in taxes, has led to a kingdom that is destitute, dirty, desperate, and increasingly dissatisfied with their unjust lot. Our four young heroes come to age in this volatile situation.I liked Magnus, the heir to the throne of Limeros, the most, I think he was strong despite his despot of a father and has the most potential. I also liked his sister Lucia, she is probably my favourite character because she’s brave and kind, but not insipid or complacent as some daughters of Kings are written. Jonas, a Paelsian wine-seller’s son seeking vengeance for the murder of his brother, is also written well but so narrow-minded that I found myself disliking him.It was Cleo who proved problematic to me: the second daughter of the king of Auranos, spoilt, stubborn, unthinking and mind-numbingly dumb, Cleo’s chapters made me stop reading this book for two whole days before I sucked it up and read the final hundred pages. Cleo is also where the author’s world building breaks down: Auranos allows female children to inherit – Cleo’s older sister is the heir – so the princesses are, in theory, entitled to a proper education covering not only arts, writing and embroidery for females, but politics, battle theory and tactics. It follows that the guards and staff at the palace would treat them with respect. And yet guards mouth off to Cleo and asking her what use her art and embroidery will be in war. It makes me think that, for whatever reason, these girls aren’t educated in a manner befitting potential future rulers of the land, and are stuck in the more traditional roles where women are delegated child rearing duties and little else. Cleo and her sister are woefully uninformed about everything, and Cleo lacks the mental acumen to figure anything out by herself. Even with an army outside her palace, fighting to break in, Cleo is surprised that she is unsafe in the castle. Surprised that she’d be in danger if they manage to break through. The murder of Jonas’ brother at the hands of a Lord travelling with her fails to strike her as important, and Cleo fails to connect the death of a mere peasant to the growing discontent of the neighbouring kingdom. After tensions rise to breaking point, and she is told explicitly that to travel to Paelsian would be dangerous, especially for her, she runs away and has the gall to be surprised when she is captured to be ransomed. There’s sheltered, there’s naive. And then there’s wilfully stupid. Go and die in a hole you ignorant nit wit. Now, you might say that Cleo, who is not expecting to reign after her father, might not have been expected to attend lectures on politics, logic, and the like, but then I ask you, what sort of King doesn’t prepare for chance, however small it may be, that his heir may die?Regardless, I liked the plot of Falling Kingdoms: the blood, betrayal, and secrets.It played out well on the political level – it’s nothing like a lot of adult fantasy, which is a relief, but still engaging. I was surprised by some of the turns the story took, and enjoyed the way that romance was wisely kept as a subplot and never took over the story. I also enjoyed the magic system in the book – it’s interesting and mysterious, and I can’t wait to find out more. I loved the glimpses of the Watchers that were offered to the readers, and want to get to know them better too.There is a lot to like about Falling Kingdoms and despite my antagonism towards Cleo, I did enjoy it. I’ll be looking out for the next book in the series! Those who enjoy epic fantasy but perhaps tire of the endless politicking that marks them will enjoy this book, and it will also appeal to young adult fans looking for an adventure in a fantastical setting.A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.

[tripsis_1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

BookNook — Young Adult book reviewsI was terrified going into Falling Kingdoms. It's marketed as being great for fans of George R.R. Martin. Unfortunately, I don't like Martin's books. I know what you're thinking: "You don't like A Song of Ice and Fire???" I'm afraid not, folks. I love the overall story of that series, but the books themselves put me to sleep and there are way too many characters that I didn't give a shit about. So naturally, Falling Kingdoms scared me.I think my problem with books like this is that character development tends to suffer when there are so many. If I have to keep track of a million characters, I get people and places mixed up, it's hard to keep track, and I don't have enough time to get truly invested in the characters. To some extent, this was still a little bit of a problem in Falling Kingdoms, but nowhere near the extent that I was anticipating! I did get off to a bit of a rocky start with this book, but it only improved as time went on, until finally, I was completely hooked!So if it wasn't clear already, Falling Kingdoms is told from the point of view of three different kingdoms—with different characters in each. Luckily, Morgan Rhodes takes baby steps to help us get used to the characters. They all have distinct voices and stories and it's easy to get interested in all of them! My affections and investment for each character grew as the story progressed! At first I was a little unsure that I'd grow to care about them, but by the end, I really grew to appreciate the differences between the characters!And the fantasy in this book... IT WAS AWESOME! The fantasy and lore is really what drew me in. Around the end of the beginning of the book, I thought I was pretty convinced that it would end up with a 3 star rating. At that point, I wasn't sold on the characters and although there was a cute romance developing, it developed way too soon and my concerns about character development being too quick and fleeting were starting to show. But at that same point, the fantasy in the book took a major leap forward and re-hooked my interest in the story! We have magic, goddesses, sorceresses, witches, prophecies, and more! And everyone—all three kingdoms—are fighting to take pieces of it. Everyone wants the power and the magic for themselves. As they struggle to obtain it, there are plenty of brutal murders, betrayals, backstabbings, heartbreaks, acts of revenge, and wars! It's intense, it's thrilling, and there are plenty of unexpected turns that will have you ripping through pages! And the battles in this book feel real. There is none of that nonsense where all of the 'good' people miraculously survive, or all the family members stick together and happen to make it through to the end. Nope. There is real, tragic death and unexpected (or expected) losses. Characters you love will die. It's sad, and it's awful, but it also makes this book stand out.There is one thing about Falling Kingdoms that I loved, but for some people this could be the reason why they don't like the book. It's clearly written for young adults. That may be obvious, given that it's classified as a young adult book, but I really grew to appreciate this. I find that with more 'adult' fantasy books, the writing style just distances me from any kind of emotion or investment in the characters. This was a big problem for me with A Song of Ice and Fire. Falling Kingdoms has that epic fantasy feel with a lighter and more 'friendly' writing style that makes the book very smooth and easy to read.Kind of building on that point, one complaint from other reviewers is that the language isn't written like historical language would be. Instead, it feels modern. I actually liked that aspect because I can't help but think, "This is so cheesy" when I read books with older, more proper language (like "How art thou this evening, m'lady?"). It's just a personal preference I guess.Falling Kingdoms was a really pleasant surprise for me because I went in not expecting to like it that much. Let me just say that I was pissed when it ended! I wanted more. I desperately want to know how this story will turn out! It left in a really fabulous place where things got wrapped up (even if it wasn't quite a happy ending), but I'm still hungry for more.

[hellen0-4 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Scroll down to find the review in English


Aunque tiene más de cuatrocientas páginas, se lee muy rápidamente. Por una vez me parecieron todas las historias igual de interesantes y ninguna me aburrió, lo que es algo que me gustó. Este libro es el primero de una serie, pero nunca me pareció que fuera demasiado lento, como es el caso de algunos primeros volúmenes de series. Puede que fuera porque la historia fue tan interesante o por el estilo de la autora, pero estuve pegada a las páginas.

Hay varios personajes en cada una de las tres historias, pero no llegan a ser demasiados, así que no hace falta un dramatis personae para seguirlos a todos. Además, los personajes muy secundarios -ésos que no aparecen más de dos veces y sólo muy brevemente- están completamente descritos cada vez, así que aunque se te olvide quiénes son, el texto te lo recuerda.

Es difícil decir si los personajes son creíbles, porque todos ellos han crecido en situaciones más bien extremas. A algunos los han protegido mucho y cometen errores tontos y otros han sido desatendidos. En cualquier caso, no noté ninguna situación que fuera excesivamente poco creíble.

Lo único que no me gustó fueron las historias de amor. En el caso de una de ellas, la situación se convierte en demasiado conveniente para un personaje, lo que no significa que tenga éxito, y las otras no están lo suficientemente desarrolladas para que uno crea que son amor y no simplemente atracción física. No es algo muy importante, ya que el argumento avanza demasiado rápidamente para que jueguen un papel importante. No en este primer libro, porque la venganza parece ser un tema recurrente y está impulsada por sentimientos.

Puedo ver por qué la gente compara esta serie con Canción de Hielo y Fuego. Ningún personaje está a salvo, aunque dudo que vaya a morir ninguno de los tres principales, y alguna de las muertes fue un poco inesperada. Además, el argumento se parece a un thriller político que tiene lugar en un mundo medieval de fantasía y hay un personaje cuya situación me recordó un poco a la de Arya. Creo que aquí es donde acaban las similitudes, por lo menos tras haber leído sólo este libro de la serie. El aspecto de thriller político de Canción de Hielo y Fuego es mucho más complejo, con muchas partes distintas, mientras que el de La caída de los reinos es muy directo. Las situaciones de Cleo y Arya son verdaderamente parecidas, pero también muy diferentes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Even though it has more than four hundred pages, it’s a really fast read. For once, I found all the stories equally interesting and none bored me, which is something that I enjoyed. This book is the first of a series, but I never thought that it was too slow, as is the case with some first volumes of series. Maybe it’s because the story was so interesting, or because of the style of the author, but I was glued to the pages.

There are several characters in each of the three storylines, but not too many, so you won’t need a dramatis personae to keep track of all of them. Also, the very secondary characters -those that don’t appear more than twice and only very briefly- are fully described each time, so even if you forget who they are, the text reminds you.

It’s difficult to say if the characters are believable, because they’ve all grown up in more extreme situations. Some have been very sheltered and make foolish mistakes and others have been neglected. In any case, I didn’t notice any extremely unbelievable situations.

The one thing that I didn't like were the love stories. In one case, the situation just turns out to be too convenient for one character, which doesn't mean that it works out for him, and the others are not developed enough to be believable as love and not just physical attraction. It's not very important, as the plot moves too fast for this to play a big role. Not in this first book anyway, because revenge seems to be a lingering theme and it’s fueled by feelings.

I can see why people compare this series with A Song of Ice and Fire. No character is safe, although I doubt that any of the three main ones are going to die, and some of the deaths were a bit unexpected. Also, the plot is close to a political thriller set in a medieval fantasy world and there’s a character, whose situation reminded me a bit of Arya’s. I think that this is where the similarities end, at least after reading only this book of this series. The political thriller aspect of A Song of Ice and Fire is much more complicated, with many different sides, whereas the one in Falling Kingdoms is very straightforward. Cleo’s and Arya’s situations are certainly similar, but they’re also very different.

[laphenix · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

A teenage Game of Thrones. Rhodes built a dark and vivid world, filled with complex stories and characters.

[ptom3 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I saw that FALLING KINGDOMS was being hailed as the YA version of The Game of Thrones. The overall reviews looked promising. I decided to give Morgan Rhodes a chance. This was a book I kept at work. I started reading it on December 6th, and finished on the morning of the 11th. Five days. Only reason it took my 5 Whole Days to read was because I didn't bring it home with me each morning!The book is fast paced. Action-packed. A real page-turner . . . and whatever other cliches about awesome books you want to add!Three different territories. Two Kings, and one chief. One of the three is over all prosperous on all fronts. The other two are very jealous and greedy! Princes and princesses. Warriors and common folk. Magic and evil plots. FALLING KINGDOMS is ripe with tension!I loved the book. I've ordered the other three in the series. Look forward to their arrival in the mail!Phillip TomassoAuthor of Damn the Dead and Blood River

[glitzandshadows · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

Game of Thrones for teens (because teens don't read Game of Thrones!! I'm being facetious, forgive me). Well, when I started this I was excited because YA High Fantasy is always my thing, and you in the beginning I was digging it. The prologue is great.
... and, you know, that was about all I thought was great. It's frustrating when you read a book that is one step away from being good but it's just not. And I always feel so sad when the High Fantasy books are the ones that aren't good.
The issue with this was that everyone was a stereotype of some overused fantasy trope. Cleo is a spoiled princess, Lucia is the one with the ~magic~, Magnus is the dark amoral one (yes, he was the only one I liked), and Jonas was the "barbarian" rebel. They never became more than their stereotypes. They were never anything more than their first impressions as characters. There was really no growth. They were beaten around by the plot (especially Cleo, good grief nearly every death happened to someone around her), but they never grew from it.
The political schema was a mess. The idea was there but the execution was not. I'm expected to believe an entire kingdom was totally cool with the idea of growing nothing but grapes? Like, no one in the whole kingdom thought that was a shady idea? They were all good with it? Like, the steps were all there to make it reasonable as to how that kingdom became impoverished and desperate, but the steps were also wildly implausible.
I thought it was odd that every single one of the adults is shown in a terrible light. Even Cleo's father who—I think—you're supposed to like is shown as being pretty harsh and callous. Like, if you're expecting me to only root for the teenagers maybe they should be a tad less annoying. I liked Magnus, the attempt at the amoral character was a good one. The whole plot with him being in love with his sister was all very Game of Thrones, but that was all he was? He was just that dude in love with his sister. There was nothing more to him than that. Jonas and Cleo drove me crazy. All Jonas was was his need for vengeance to a point where I just kept saying 'Ok, calm down, dude, people think about other things sometimes...' I'm not sure what my issue with Cleo was, I just didn't mesh with her well (which happens).
The magic was all... just I'd seen it all before and I wasn't interested in any of it. I'm trying to not complain about elemental magic system bases when I see them, but good grief people can't we do something else? I wouldn't even mind a return to the Tamora Pierce barely explained magic system because it gives a better range of magic. Elemental magic just sets you up to be compared to Avatar: The Last Airbender and, let's be real here, no one is going to beat Avatar.
I'm trying to look at this book from the point of view of someone who doesn't read a lot of high fantasy and I can see where it would be interesting with the multiple characters. Rhodes likes to use blood super gratuitously (like... in places it doesn't even make sense) and you know I kind of liked that.
However, the characters are flat, the dialogue is stilted (it was so uncomfortable, I was rewriting it in my head as I was reading and that's always a bad sign), and it's all relatively generic. It's all a lot of things I've seen done better than this.
I probably won't pick up the next book in the series because it just wasn't bad enough to warrant it. I was just bored. An unfortunate thing, alas.
Ultimately, there are better YA High Fantasy novels out there.

[anyaejo · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

Despite what you'd think from the cover, there is very little wearing of white cloaks and swooshing of magic blades and things. There is a lot of whining by spoiled royal children though. The narration of the audiobook was fine though he gave everyone accents but then narrated without an accent which seemed odd. What little of the magic we see is your typical elemental stuff so I was bored there. There are a lot of characters and switching views, which isn't easy to follow on audio so I recommend against listening if you are debating on it. Over all just a bit disappointed.

[dkgarner95 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Richly imaginative and totally epic, Falling Kingdoms has earned itself a coveted place on my favorites shelf. I cannot recommend this book enough!!

[shakirh.b3 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This book is about four sons and daughters of 3 different kingdoms. There is Cleo, Jonas, Lucia and Magnus. Each kingdom has it own kings: the Auranos, Limeros and Paelsia. Jonas' older brother Tomas was killed and he wanted revenge. Jonas is a rebel and he doesn't like the Auranos kingdom or Cleo. He wanted Cleo to die because he said that she killed his brother. Cleo is the youngest daughter of the Auranian king. She is beautiful, spoil and rich. She witness the murder of Jonas' brother. Magnus and Lucia are brother and sister of the Limeros kingdom. But Lucia found out that she was adopted at birth. Then the rebels started a war with Cleo's kingdom. What I like about this book is the setting and how everyone came from a different background. It was fun, full of suspense, and at times emotional. I like how everyone was fighting for power, people were dying; witches were put to death; it contained magic and It showed the good and evil of people.

[ryant.b3 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Falling Kingdoms is about 3 kingdoms. The kingdoms are Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia. The 4 main characters are Princess Cleo, Prince Magnus, Princess Lucia, and Jonas Agallon. All 4 are trying to find and possess the magical crystals called the Kindred. The Kindred are 4 crystals that possess the power of the elements. Princess Cleo is the Princess of Aurnos. Princess Lucia is the Princess of Limeros, and Prince Magnus is the Prince of Limeros. Jonas is a rebel that got his brother killed by a lord from Auranos.I really liked this book, because it is exciting on every page. I don't think this is a children's book though by the content. I can't wait to read the second book in the series. The ending was exciting, and from the ending I knew that there would be a second book, because of the ending. I think that Jonas's obsession to kill Princess Cleo though is to extreme. I mean she didn't even do anything, Lord Aron did everything. The thing I love most is that there is magic in the book.

[ceecee83 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

My, oh my, this was absolutely fantastic! Without any doubt or hesitation I’m giving this one 5 full stars, even a month after I have finished it. I loved this book! It kept me reading late into the night, homework was disregarded, my social life (ha!) fell to the wayside as I locked myself in my room to JUST. KEEP. READING. It may have been because I haven’t read anything new or particularly good recently, but this book was definitely a winner.Falling Kingdoms follows the lives of people from the three countries of Auranos, Palesia, and Limeros in the land of Mytica. This land is fraught with tension after the murder of a wine seller’s son and it seems that a war is on the rise. In this book we get to see through the eyes of many different characters from all the countries, and this perspective change is done so efficiently that we are able to empathize with all the characters. Because of this connection you feel with everyone, you can’t really pinpoint a villain right away, however it becomes clear near the end and definitely in the sequel, Rebel Spring who is evil and who is not.This fabulous fantasy just blew me away. I feel like I love this book way more than most people, but this story just grabbed my attention from the very beginning and didn’t let me go. I literally stayed up all night to read the majority of the book. Some characters in the book include Princess Cleo, Jonas Agallon, Prince Magnus and Princess Lucia. It was so nice to watch as each character was developed, how their stories intertwined together and how feelings or connections changed between them all. This was a story that kept me on edge. There were so many characters and events and it was just such a smooth and enjoyable read. There was no lull at all in the narrative for me and the plot is also full of sudden and shocking moments. I literally gasped, laughed, cried and shouted at the book all while reading. Luckily I read this when there were no other people around… for the most part…Aaahh… anyway… I can’t say enough about how wonderful I thought this book was, so to save you from pages and pages of what would be a big ol’ gush fest, I guess I’ll wrap it up. I actually went to Chapters before I was done Falling Kingdoms to buy the sequel, Rebel Spring, which I read immediately after I was done. I’m happy to say I LOVED that book as well and hope to review it soon.I guess it’s obvious, but I absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone looking to be completely thrilled and enthralled by a book. This book sucks you in and really doesn’t let you go. Honestly I was absorbed and lost in the world this book weaved and I loved every minute of it! Go and grab your copy and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

[sensitivemuse · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

***Spoilers ahead you’ve been warned***I rather enjoyed this one. Somewhat. The characters are really what drives this book (some of them that is) and while the plot moves at a medium pace, it’s understandable as this introduces you to the setting, the characters and what’s in store for us as readers.World building is straight forward and there’s a handy guide in the beginning so you can figure out who is who and from which Kingdom (there are three). It pretty much centralizes on a small group that are central to the main plot and it’s easy to figure out who is who as you quickly start developing favorites :)And this is where it starts getting interesting. I notice this happens sometimes with fantasy books. The good characters are downright annoying, nauseating (even more so when the love factor is involved) and induce eye rolling moments while reading. The not so nice characters are more interesting to read, you quietly cheer for them and hope they turn out for the better because you don’t want them going down that path because most likely, they’ll end up being gone and you’ll have nothing else to read but the good guys. I tried to like Cleo. I really did. However all I see is a little naive twit who’s annoying and I don’t really see her worth in this book and I wonder why Magnus just doesn’t end her so she can join good ol dependable Theon. I am hoping she turns out better in the later books but so far she’s not looking so good and her romance with Theon was so eye rolling inducing it’s characters like these that make or break the novel. Thankfully, I love the Magnus story arc. He’s turned into a jerk but it’s not really his fault as dad isn’t really nice. The thing with Lucia is creepy and although they’re not blood related it still gives moments of queasiness (dude, you have like so many girls in the Kingdom come on). That being said though, I love reading about Magnus and Lucia. Their story lines are interesting, they have faults, and they deal with it (albeit, perhaps not in an all too healthy manner). The story arc with Jonas was also interesting and I wish more was written about him (I think Cleo’s got way too much time in spotlight) as he’s gone through so much to get his revenge and only to find out it just opened a giant Pandora’s box and we’re heading towards more epic battling. The latter third of the book gets really interesting. I’m only hoping there’s going to be a good outcome for everyone and I really hope Cleo’s character improves because she’s really what could make or break my desire to continue onto this series. Sometimes it takes that one character to ruin it all. That being said, I think it’s off to a great start and I’m ready for some more! Great for those into YA fantasy.

[jdifelice-1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

4.5*
I really enjoyed this book! It was exciting, fast paced, and unpredictable (kind of). I really enjoyed the cast of characters we were introduced to and can't wait to continue on with Rebel Spring - as soon as I buy it.
This book really grabs you and introduces you to a land riddled with strife and unrest. I really enjoyed the magical elements in this book and how the three lands are depicted. Because we get POVs from characters in all three kingdoms, it's so hard to root for one specific person. There are definitely some unlikable characters, but at the same time, you still kind of like them.
The world building was pretty good. I really got a feel for the relationship between the three kingdoms, and how everything was connected. The way the history was woven in was great. I can see why so many people enjoy this series.

:D

[liveshipvivacia · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This book was relatively compelling, although it suffered from quick connections with seemingly little motivation behind it. (I'm looking at you two, Cleo and Theon). It also gave me the feeling of Game of Thrones with an easier to swallow page length and swifter to read. That being said, the second book sounds like it'll be better. Let's hope.

[teamdewey · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Too many characters.Many people will enjoy this book but I need to like a character to enjoy their journey.This is book one of a series and I understand the need to build the world and introduce the characters but i will not finish the series because i don't care what happens.

[chocolitchick · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

In the age of multi-tasking, sitting down to relax and read is an endorphin rush much like I experience shortly after a Lindt Lindor truffle explodes across the back of my palate. However, that heady endorphin high quickly recedes into an adrenaline blast of terror when I discover that the opening page is a compendium of information that keeps tabs on who is who, where is where, and good-god can I just start reading, please? However, once I started this high fantasy by Morgan Rhodes, I luckily found myself engaged and lost to an action-packed story, only occasionally stopping to go, “Wait. What? Who the hell is that?” then flipping to the front for a quick refresher course in the genealogy of Mythica, the land created by Rhodes.Said land is divided into three kingdoms and of course, war and intrigue is a’ coming. The multiple young characters are versatile in their quirks, qualities and genders, and I had fun chasing them around the countryside as their kingdoms fell apart. The setting/era was similar to titles such as Throne of Glass and Grave Mercy, but young female assassins weren’t woven into the fabric of this particular tale. There was still plenty of love, blood, and mayhem, though, to keep me occupied. Considering the story was fantasy, I appreciated the fact that it didn’t delve into a long, boring outline of some new religion; the focus stayed on the characters. However, I think the belief system will probably be tackled in the next installment, Rebel Spring which arrives in book stores December 3, 2013. The only stumble I noticed in the writing was the author bouncing back and forth between modern phrasing and the old, stilted language of yore. Hopefully that, and a simpler character key in the front, will accompany the sequel, hence, keeping my endorphin levels exactly where they should be—on a chocolate high.

[bookaddictdiary · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Thanks to the HBO series Game of Thrones, high fantasy is back in style and everyone is jumping (back) on that bandwagon. Falling Kingdoms is part of this new movement in the YA genre to bank off Game of Thrones (though I find it interesting that these books came out in the late 90s and early 2000s -heck, I read all of them in 2004-2006 -they didn't get any mainstream attention until the HBO show). I had high expectations for Falling Kingdoms, especially since the marketing team worked so hard to connect it to Martin's works.Falling Kingdoms is a an epic tale spanning three kingdoms, four lead characters with their own conflicts ranging from political issues to relationship ones. In a world where magic is all but dead, it's starting to come back, and war is brewing between the countries against a backdrop of power and political intrigue (and, of course, a ridiculous number of characters). There's Cleo, a spoiled princess who embarks on a journey to find magic; Jones, a commoner angry with the upper classes for constantly oppressing them; Lucia, a girl adopted into the royal family with magical abilities; and Magnus, a firstborn son destined to lead.When I first saw this book being plugged as a "teen version of Game of Thrones," I was skeptical. There are just so many things about Game of Thrones/Song of Fire and Ice that just aren't friendly for younger readers. Yet, if you strip out all of the more adult material, there is still a a great story filled with political intrigue and complex conflicts between characters and ruling families. That's basically what Falling Kingdoms is, but without the same level of detail, warring families and with hints of magic. There's even shades of brother-sister incest (even though they get around it by using the whole "we're not blood related" thing).Yet, Falling Kingdoms felt like it was try almost too hard to BE Game of Thrones, when it could have been better if it was more of a stand-alone high fantasy that wasn't try to just clone something else. I think that was what really hurt this book for me -it's absolutely not on the same level as Game of Thrones. The detail isn't there. The world-building is not as strong (and Game of Thrones is more about world-building than anything else). And the writing just isn't as strong -in fact, I'd say that writing could use a good edit. It's not bad (it's got potential), but it needs some smoothing out. I probably would have enjoyed the book more if I wasn't constantly trying to compare it to GoT.Despite that, the characters in this book are really excellent. They kept me going, kept me flipping pages. I wanted to know what was going to happen to them, and to these warring kingdoms as the tension built. It just took a long time for the tension to build. Yet, I read this entire book cover-to-cover and thought it was still a worthwhile read. Was it a great read? No -but I did have very high expectations, and Falling Kingdoms fell short of those expectations.

[kaylagregg · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

Fluff read. Great for when i'm in between books.

[firestarbooks · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Plot related stuffThe story started out with a bang! First chapter it initiated the spark! And within 50 pages of the book the "OMG! OMG! OH! OH! OH!" moments came in. Yup. :)The unfair kingdoms/magic/fighting/unrest is not a new idea but it is an idea what never gets old. This familiarity creates relatability. The magic reminded me of all those tales about the elements (Avatar anyone?), fate, and prophecies. The unfairness reminded me of the Ishbalans (or Ishvalans) from Full Metal Alchemists. The anger that brewed in my stomach was strong and hot. This is why I love reading, it can provide not only new worlds for me to explore but also familiarity and emotions. This familiarity is comforting. With that said, familiarity, or should I say repetitions can be bad. It is only tolerable in certain genres, and fantasy is one of them. Haha, I guess one of the reasons why I like fantasy and why I don't get annoyed by it. :pThe world building is good, not the best but good enough. I can imagine a lot of the things by myself. Morgan gave the readers rooms to explore with their own imagination. The prologue was very different - in an attractive way. I did get confused when I was a few paragraphs in. I wasn't sure what was going on until later on. But it was intriguing.CharactersLove the characters! Cleo was perfect in every single way. She didn't stand out to be any particular type: not completely whiny, not completely rebellious, not completely strong. She can't be pinned down as one type. She has a multitude of colors and rays that developed in this character that you simply can't hate. She is not perfect, nor fake. She is marvelous.Theon, oh wow. I love you, pure and simple. I love you. *dives into daydream* :) He is sweet, strong, protective...just *rolls around the floor from embarrassment and excitement* so perfect!I particularly like to hate Aron. He is the type of character that lacks responsibilities, chase freedom and fun. He can be a hassle and a pain. He is the type of jerk that you want to throw frying pans at and stab with a million pencils. Yup...I swear, I am not a psychopath. That's why I like to hate him. He is full of character.Nic was just a friend that I am looking for. He is seriously a friend you can count on and make you happy. The relationship between Nic and Cleo is...just AWESOME! There is no I-loved-you-since-forever-but-I-secretly-hid-it kind of thing. They are just amazing friends! (Kind of jelly right here :3).Magnus has, well, I won't say depth, but there is something about him that makes me intrigued. The romance for him is sweet, tender, and soft. Like a delicate flower petal, it gently brushes the readers' hearts, well at least for me it did.But other characters such as Jonas brought unspeakable emotions to me. My heart wanted to burst in sorrow. Morgan seemed to transform simple words into threads of magic that pulled at my emotions. Oh Paelsia, how I cry for you. Alexius had me intrigued and my heart beating from the moment I was introduced to him.There are way too many characters to discuss separately (it might just bore you to death), but each had their uniqueness, their magic, their soul.This book really reminded me why I love YA/MG fantasy. *sigh* :) I would recommend this to YA high fantasy lovers. If you enjoy the Storm Glass, Graceling, a clean version of Game of Throne etc., you will love this. :)But I guess the reason why this book is not a 5/5 is that it didn't have that something that made it FLAILS-worthy. It didn't make me go crazy, running around the house screaming or shoving the book in my family's faces. It didn't have that spark of something that made me give this a perfect score. It wasn't "perfect" but it didn't deserve a 4.5, so therefore 4.75.Ashley's Bits and PiecesLove how there were a list of characters and their role at the front of the book. I find a lot of the time with high or epic fantasy that I lose track of people. This book had a lot of characters and this simple addition made it a lot easier on me. I just want to give my thanks to it! :)

[bookswithbite · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

My new genre is fantasy. Written beautifully, I could not put down this book!!! It's so exciting to read! I really loved the plot. Told from different perspectives, the reader gets to see from all sides. Not to worry, cause it flows wonderfully from character to character. The author did a great job in linking each character to one another in some strange way. Watching everything unfold before my eyes was so entertaining.The love interest has got to be my fave. There are a few going on but of course not without some drama. And it's drama that will rock your socks off. I totally loved watching each person reveal secrets, get heart broken, fall in love, and of course watching every person use it against one another. Falling Kingdoms is awesome fantasy read. I stayed up late finishing a book that I thought would only read just a "few chapters." Marvelous in every way possible, Falling Kingdoms is amazing!

[bell7_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Four teens in three kingdoms find themselves in the midst of events that could destroy their world. Princess Cleiona of Auranos - Cleo for short - travels with a friend, Aron, who is bend on purchasing famed Paelsian wine. While there, an altercation leaves a boy dead and his younger brother Jonas promising vengeance upon Cleo and Aron. Meanwhile, Magnus and Lucia, the prince and princess of Limeros, discover a secret about Lucia's heritage.This new young adult fantasy first caught my attention because of its incredible cover art: the central image is a figure in a hooded cloak, carrying a dagger in each hand. In the background, a castle and flying hawk can be seen in the distance, while the foreground has an intricate design surrounding the title. It's dark, cloudy, atmospheric. Unfortunately, the story went downhill from there. I found the premise and mythology of this world and the reasons it is disintegrating interesting, and would read the next book in the series just to see where the author goes with that. But there's a lot going on, there are many characters to follow (which you can tell because the first three pages is a character list that I did indeed have to refer to on occasion), and there were at least one too many coincidences of characters meeting up at just the right time to move the story forward. Good enough to finish, but not something I can wholeheartedly recommend.