Title: Fallen CitySeries: Fallen City Duology #1
Pages: 416
Publication Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Publisher: Saturday Books
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city’s Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.
Maris Casoeria was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel’s inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.
As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.
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MY THOUGHTS ON FALLEN CITY:
This is a tough one for me to review because I have mixed feelings. I love the author’s writing style and the rich and immersive feel of her books. The premise of the book is very interesting, and I like how the chapters switch between the two main characters as well as from the past to the present. They add more depth to both Maris and Luca and provide a lot of context about the conflicts, relationships, and what led to the rebellion.
I struggled with the naiveté of Maris and Luca as well as some of the more predictable aspects of the plot. For me, it started off stronger than it ended. And one character’s actions at the end frustrated me, as did another character’s reaction to it. It made both of them seem very immature. I think that was what frustrated me the most throughout the book – many of these characters are young, but based on what they’ve been through and are going through in the story, I expected them to act and react more maturely. Overall, it wasn’t a bad read. It was entertaining and had some good suspense and action, but, for me, the characters and the love story fell a bit flat.
Adrienne Young is the New York Times and international bestselling author of the Sky and Sea duology, the Fable series, and Spells for Forgetting. When she’s not writing, you can find Adrienne on her yoga mat, on a walk in the woods, or planning her next travel adventure. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
MY THOUGHTS ON ONE BED FOR THE BLUESTOCKING:
This is an entertaining addition to the Weatherby Wallflowers series. I loved getting Kate’s story and seeing her step into the spotlight after her sisters’ books. Determined to be taken seriously as a scientific illustrator, Kate disguises herself as a man named Kit to gain a spot working and learning at the University of Edinburgh. She knows it’s a terrible idea, but, because of issues with her father and her financial situation, she’s run out of options. She is fiercely determined and incredibly talented, as well as undeniably attracted to Nathaniel Sterling.
Nathaniel is a fantastic MMC. He’s smart, kind, passionate about his career, and so easy to love. His dynamic with “Kit” is full of tension, humor, and plenty of awkward, angsty moments as their connection deepens. I liked how the author handled his growing feelings while still keeping him gentle and respectful. The slow-burn romance between them was genuinely sweet and full of longing, especially when they are faced with close quarters and some really awkward animal observations. lol
I also really liked Kate’s trio of student friends. They added so much humor and warmth to the story, and I loved how loyal they were. As a group, they were fun and charming, and their relationship with Kit/Kate was fantastic. There are some heavier topics addressed, like sexism and racism, but they are balanced well with lighter moments throughout the story. Overall, it was a light and fun read!
After reading Black Beauty for the 1,497th time, Courtney McCaskill was inspired to write her own stories. Reviews of her early work were mixed, with her fourth-grade teacher, Ms. Compton, saying, “Please stop writing all of your assignments from the point of view of a horse.”
Today, Courtney lives in Austin, Texas with the hero of her own story, who holds the distinction of being the world’s most sarcastic pediatrician. She is reliably informed by her six-year-old son that she gives THE BEST hugs, “because you’re so squishy, Mommy.” When she’s not busy almost burning down her house attempting to make a traditional Christmas pudding, she enjoys playing the piano, learning everything there is to know about Kodiak bears, and of course, curling up with a great book! Visit her online at www.courtneymccaskill.com.
